Harnessing the Power of “No”: An Aim for Fitness Emotional Management Skill

Dawn was a busy person. Every time someone requested her time or energy, Dawn said yes…until she ultimately found herself carrying the heavy emotional weight of too many obligations.

All that emotional weight was beginning to show up in her body as physical weight. Overwhelmed, Dawn would make frequent trips to the refrigerator to eat away her feelings of distress and guilt. In addition, she was experiencing frequent migraines and sleeplessness. As a result, her work and her relationships were suffering. She found herself being a grouchy mom to her kids and easily irritated by others.

One little change helped Dawn to release a tremendous amount of overwhelm in her life. Less overwhelm meant fewer trips to the refrigerator, less migraines, better sleep at night and improved relationships.

What little change could have caused all these powerful results?

Dawn experienced a liberating inner revolution:

She learned to harness the power of “No” in her life.

Without the power of “No” you’re at the mercy of forces outside of yourself. You’ve given up inner direction.

Without the power of “No”, you keep taking on the emotional weight of more and more obligations, and your emotional weight may begin to show itself in your body as physical weight and a host of other issues similar to Dawn’s experience.

What is the power of “No”? It’s the first step toward an inner revolution. It’s the first step toward regaining control over your schedule, your emotional well-being, your life…and your body!

What makes the power of “No” possible?

Self love.

Sustaining weight loss not built upon diet pills, machines, gym memberships, DVD’s and supplements. Sustaining weight loss is built on the foundation of a healthy, loving enduring relationship with yourself.

The ability to say “No” to others is really the ability to say “Yes” to yourself.

Dawn no longer feels guilty saying no. It didn’t happen overnight. It took a couple of months of intentional practice before she could bring herself to say no without experiencing guilt. It helped when I mentioned to her that you should only feel guilty when you do something wrong. Then I asked her, “By saying no, are you doing something wrong or does it just not suit someone else?”

Emotional management skills are behaviors learned with practice and patience.

Today look within yourself and see if there are obligations that are draining you and do not serve a higher purpose for you. List them and see which one you can say no to. Also try saying “no” once this week.

Was this tip helpful? Follow this link to the Aim for Fitness “Self Care Before Sit-ups” webpage with two additional Aim for Fitness emotional management skills: http://bit.ly/6pBwmR