When we say no, it’s because there’s something inside of us telling us not to do it. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are, there’s a reason why we don’t think we should do it. Some people say no very often, but there’s some people who say yes way too often. Life is all about balances, and without it, we fall off kilter. Especially in college times, we like to say yes to as much as possible, whether it be people or responsibilities to take on. We want to seem like a likable person, so we don’t like to deny people of things. This culture of us always saying yes whether we mean it or not can turn us into people who get used and taken advantage of because of our niceness. Here, I’m going to explain why you shouldn’t feel guilty about saying no, along with the different possible circumstances. Always remember — your body is yours, don’t let anyone else make decisions for you when it comes to your body and your sanity.
No, I don’t want to go out tonight.
Maybe you were tired from classes, maybe you just got out of working a seven hour shift, or maybe you just don’t want to go out. We all have those types of days where socializing just isn’t written in the stars for us that day. Think about it this way, though. If we agreed even though we didn’t feel up to it and went to the party, we probably wouldn’t have a good time. We would feel uncomfortable or grumpy being somewhere we don’t want to be. We might do something we don’t want to do, like drinking heavily when we have a big presentation the next day. Whatever the reason, saying no to your friends isn’t something that you should be afraid to do.
No, I don’t want to hook up with you.
When it comes to people we’re interested in romantically, the word "no" is almost completely out of our vocabulary. We want to be liked, so we try to stay away from any negative answers, even if it means sacrificing our own morals or ideas. Maybe it’s someone you’ve been crushing on for years, or maybe it’s some random person who came up to you at a party. Whether you’re just not that into him, not into getting involved in a romantic situation at all tonight, or you just aren’t attracted to them — saying no is better than saying yes and regretting your actions that night. No person should make you feel forced to do something.
No, I don’t want to see that movie.
Sometimes we get roped into things by friends, and we’re less than happy about the results. Whether it’s a movie you don’t want to go see, a concert you really don’t want to go to, or a coffee date you’re just not in the mood for — no is a word you’re more than allowed to use around your friends. They should be the most understanding people you surround yourself with! You don’t have to say it in a mean tone, but saying no is the only way to show you don’t want to do it.
No, I didn’t get an A.
One thing I’ve come to see is that people are constantly lying about their grades. It’s like they’re afraid to admit that they didn’t do as well as their friends on an exam because they’re afraid of being judged. I think the moment when we can admit that we didn’t do too well on something is the moment where we really officially drop our guard. It’s like we’re sitting there saying "you know, I didn’t do well, but I accept that" and suddenly, a weight is lifted off your shoulders. If you haven’t tried it before, you definitely should. Grades give us such a high level of pressure in this society for no real reason, so when we can finally admit how we did on something and realize it for ourselves, we feel more free.
