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7 Ways to Say No With Grace

When my children were toddlers, I had no problem saying the word “no.” I had a million reasons and ways to say no. I felt like it was the only word in my vocabulary for a few years. But somewhere along the line, I forgot how to say no to other people. I think many moms fall into this same trap. We want to please people, so we reluctantly agree to do something we know perfectly well we don’t have the time or desire to do. Then we end up feeling resentful rather than joyful. (If you’ve ever stayed up until midnight making cupcakes for a bake sale and cursing under your breath, then you know what I’m talking about.)

What if we perfected the art of saying no? What if we could say no without hurting feelings or feeling guilty? I promise it’s possible! Start here with these 7 things you can do to say it with more confidence and ease and less dread.

1. Say no to the good in order to make room for the great.

Keep in mind all the great stuff you are making room for in your life, like more time with your family or the ability to exercise more regularly. Write down the good stuff (your priorities) and put them someplace visible so you can see them when you are asked to do something that would be a distraction or barrier. And don’t be afraid to share your reasoning with a statement like this:

“I’m honored that you would think of me for this important job, but right now, I’ve decided to spend more time with my family and this would prevent me from doing that. I hope you understand.”

2. Make decisions in advance.

I teach my children to make decisions in advance so they don’t have to rely on their undeveloped prefrontal cortex when they are tempted to take a sip of alcohol or cheat on a test. The same strategy works for me when saying “no” to something or someone. I make up my mind before I even receive the request. If there is something you anticipate being asked, write down your response in advance to help clear your thoughts. And you may even be able to stave off the request with a statement like this:

I’m really looking forward to Field Day at school this year! I’m not going to be able to lead the refreshment committee again, but please tell the new committee chair to call me if she has any questions.”

3. Remember “no” is a complete sentence.

Don’t feel the pressure to explain your answer every time. A simple, graceful “no, thank you” is often all we need. Sometimes when we share a multitude of reasons, they sound more like excuses. Try rehearsing this simple statement and ask a trusted friend to call it to your attention if she ever hears you ramble on with excuses:

“Thank you so much for the invitation, but I will not be able to participate.”

4. Decide immediately.

When you receive an invitation or a request and you delay responding, it’s not only rude but also becomes a mental burden you carry. It weighs on your mind and your heart until you’ve made a decision. You certainly need to take the time to make a prayerful and thoughtful decision. But don’t procrastinate and avoid the issue, especially if the answer is no but you’re simply afraid to say it. Try making a 24-hour rule for yourself. Challenge yourself to make a decision and respond by the following day. Then, if the answer is no, try a response like this:

“I’ve carefully considered taking on the position, but I simply can’t make that commitment at this time. I wanted to let you know right away so you can begin looking for someone else.”

5. Be clear and direct.

My children used to catch me on this one all the time. I would say “maybe” to a request and they would reply with, “Mom, everyone knows that ‘maybe’ means ‘no.’” And it’s true. Many times, we give a vague response because we don’t want to hurt people’s feelings. So we say something like “I’ll try to stop by” when we are 99 percent sure we won’t make it to an event. This only creates false expectations and more of a mental burden for you to carry around. It leaves other people feeling disappointed. Instead, see how it feels to be clear and direct with a statement like this:

“Thank you for including me. I’m bummed that I won’t be able to make it. Please keep me in mind for next time!”

6. Ignore the reaction.

If you make a decision with intention and you decline with grace, then don’t worry about what everyone else thinks. One of the best ways to say no is with confidence that it’s the right decision for you. You don’t need to talk other people into understanding, agreeing with you, or giving you approval. Don’t let yourself believe the lie that nobody else will step up to do something if you don’t do it. Somebody will step up. And if not, that’s OK, too. People may be disappointed in your decision but don’t let that change your mind. Here’s an example response that’s difficult to argue with:

“I really appreciate the opportunity, but I have a tendency to take on too many worthwhile causes—and when I take on too much, I end up doing a lousy job on everything. I’ve realized that I need to stay focused on my priorities and really limit the time I spend working on projects like this. Thanks for understanding.”

7. Have no regrets.

Once you make a decision, don’t look back. Be confident in your choice and don’t let guilt or gossip eat away at you. FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) can take over and cause you to do things you later regret. If you need some encouragement, refer back to the first point and keep your eye on the prize!

helping kids learn how to set boundariesIf we’re bad at saying no, our kids will be, too. Listen to the “No Means No, Mom” episode of the iMOM podcast to hear the story of the time Abby was proud of her son for saying no to her. Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes every Monday.

So what are your best tips for ways to say no with grace?

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