Thinking About: Saying No

I say no all the time in all kinds of ways. I say no to Max when he tries to stick his hand in my salad or the dog’s water dish. I say no to Griff when she humps company or snatches a Dorito from my hand. This morning I said no to a cinnamon bun and opted for the bran muffin instead. Saying no at work, however, is pretty different story. It’s a skill I’ve yet to master. I have a lot of personality flaws that are primarily rooted in constantly feeling inept, ill-equipped and inexperienced. My three Is! One of the flaws that results from my cherished three Is is the inability to provide a firm “no” when warranted at work. The result is that I take on too many tasks, get overwhelmed and fail in some regard, thus perpetuating the three Is. This is a terrible cycle. So, when I was getting ready to come back to work after my year of mat leave, I resolved to be better at being straightforward. I think I’m making progress. I’ve said no to a few people, provided a reason for my refusal and…everything is fine. No one hates me (?), I didn’t get fired (yet) and the world didn’t end (yet). Sweet.