‘No’ is a Complete Sentence

I’ve always been the person who said “yes,” taking on a mountain of tasks solo, working late into the night, shouldering others’ work, worries, and troubles, looking after everything and everyone, repeatedly. Yet, amidst all this, I often felt swamped by emotions and yearned for more recognition. I remember, with crystal clarity, the moment I uttered my very first “no.” I had been deeply entangled in catering to others, and it felt like I was drowning. Then, a gentle voice of liberation emerged from within me. “No.” It marked a distinct period in my life, a moment that unveiled the profound power of perception and the understanding that I can prioritize myself. It’s truly enchanting to witness how people’s attitudes can transform when you choose to put yourself first.  However, there is the trick. How people’s attitudes can shift when you decide to put yourself first.  It was as if a switch had been flipped.

The very first time I dared to say ‘No,’ I was met with raised eyebrows and an abrupt alteration in how I was perceived. Suddenly, I was labeled as the ‘bad’ person and the unreliable colleague. 

Being someone deeply affected by the opinions of others, you can imagine the weight of the judgment I carried. But this was the precise moment that compelled me to embark on a profound shift in the way I approached life – a transformation from being an eternal ‘yes’ to practicing the art of an intentional ‘no.’

In the process of this transformation, I learned that the judgments of others should not held me captive. I realized that their perceptions were but reflections of their own insecurities, not a truth on my actions and the least of who am I. 

The process is certainly not easy, and I’m still learning. This journey is, and continues to be, a path of self-discovery and personal growth. It involves recognizing that putting oneself first is not selfish but essential. It’s an acknowledgment that saying “no” doesn’t make us “bad” people; instead, it shows that we value our well-being.

Remember, “no” is a complete sentence, without the need for justification that usually follows. Don’t be deceived; people who won’t accept you for valuing yourself aren’t your people. I know it’s easier to say than done, but keep practicing – you’ll get through it as there is no other way.

This small word carries immense power as it protects you, sets boundaries, and, in turn, nurtures your overall well-being. Embrace that “no” wholeheartedly and observe the transformation that allows you to shape your true values and aspirations.

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Rec “NE” je cela recenica

Uvek sam bila osoba koja je govorila “da”, koja se obavezivala da zavrsi brdo posla sama, radi do kasne sate, preuzima tudji posao, brige, nevolje, vodi racuna o svemu i svakome, iznova i iznova. Medjutim, cesto sam bila preplavljena emocijama i osecala da nisam dovoljno cenjena. Secam se sa velikom jasnocom trenutka kada sam prvi put izgovorila svoje prvo “ne”. Toliko sam bila zaglibila u taj deo udovoljavanja drugima, da sam se gusila. I onda je tanani glas spasa izasao iz mog grla. “Ne.” To je obelezilo jedan period u mom zivotu, trenutak koji mi je otkrio kako zapravo imam duboku moc percepcije i saznanje da mogu sebe da stavim na prvo mesto. Medjutim, zaista je neverovatno kako se ljudski stavovi ka vama mogu promeniti kada odlucite da prvo mislite na sebe.

Prvi put kada sam se usudila reci “ne”, docekali su me podignutim obrvama i naglim promenama u tome kako sam percipirana. Odjednom sam bila označena kao “losa” osoba i nepouzdan kolega. Kao da je prekidac bio pritisnut. Sve dobro sto sam uradila se izgleda obrisalo i zaboravilo. 

Kao neko ko je duboko pogođen misljenjem drugih, mozete samo zamisliti tezinu koju sam se osecala. Ali bas u tom trenutku, taj grozan osecaj me je naterao da krenem na duboku promenu u nacinu pristupa problemima a i ljudima – transformaciju od vecitog “da” ka svesnom “ne”.

Taj proces naravno nije lagan i jos uvek ucim, medjutim, shvatila sam kako ne zelim i ne treba da me drze zarobljenom osude drugih. Shvatila sam da su njihova misljenja tek odrazi njihovih nesigurnosti, a ne zapravo komentari na moje postupke a ponajmanje ko sam ja.

Ovaj put je, i dalje je, put samooktkrica i licnog rasta. Ovo se odnosi na shvatanje da je staviti sebe na prvo mesto nesto sto nije sebicno, vec esencijalno. To je priznavanje da reci “ne” nas ne cini nas “losim” osobama, vec osobama koje cene svoje dobrostanje.

Jer zapamtite “ne” je jedna cela recenice, bez onog opravdavanja koje sledi nakon. I nemojte zavaravati, ljudi koji vas nece prihvatiti zbog toga sto cenite sebe, nisu vasi ljudi.

To malena rec zapravo nosi ogromnu moc jer ce vas zastiti , postaviti granice i samim tim cete negovati svoje celokupno blagostanje. Prigrlite to “ne” oberucki i posmatrajte transformaciju koja vam omogucava da oblikujete vase vrednosti i vase aspiracije.