How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty
And Say Yes to More Time, More Joy, and What Matters Most to You
-
-
3.6 • 5 Ratings
-
-
- $10.99
-
- $10.99
Publisher Description
"To this book I say yes, yes, yes!"
—from the Foreword by Richard Carlson, author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Find more time and energy for the things you love to do—learn to say no without feeling guilty!
The simple word "no" is often the most difficult to say. Yet anyone can develop the skills to say no with confidence, kindness, and peace of mind. And the benefits are enormous. You'll spend less time doing things you don't want to do with people you don't want to see, and move closer to your own priorities and passions.
How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty shows you the five simple techniques that will help you say no with finesse in nearly any situation and how to apply two basic principles to minimize guilt about saying no and reduce the likelihood of personal conflicts.
In addition, authors Patti Breitman and Connie Hatch provide specific language and practical strategies for defending your boundaries against life's many intrusions and distractions, including:
• Demanding friends and family members
• Unwelcome invitations, dates, and romantic entanglements
• Requests for money, whether from friends, relatives, organizations, or panhandlers
• Unreasonable assignments at work
• Pushy people who ask for too many favors
• Junk mail, annoying phone calls, and buddies with something to sell
• High-maintenance people
• And much more
Ultimately, "no" can be one of the most positive words in your vocabulary. Whether you crave more family time, more time for yourself, or more time to pursue a dream, saying no frees up room for the "yeses" in your life.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Featuring an extremely promotable high concept, this effort to combine assertiveness training with the aims of the simplicity movement results in an occasionally useful, if unoriginal, self-help book. By saying "no"--with skill and sensitivity--to draining, unsatisfying activities, literary agent and public speaker Breitman and writer Hatch argue, readers will have time and energy for more important ones. After covering the principles behind graceful refusals (e.g., act from generosity; saying less is more), much of the book is devoted to scripts for dealing with a variety of sticky situations--from requests for loans to handling freeloaders, high-maintenance acquaintances, service and professional help--and preventive strategies, some of which are helpful while others could easily come off as insincere. A section on handling unreasonable work demands, such as overtime and extra assignments, does not seem especially realistic, although there is some thoughtful advice on delicate issues such as critiquing performance, dealing with requests for raises and turning down job applicants. Advice on following one's bliss and self-employment seem misplaced here, while suggestions about how to say no to spouses and children are adequate. Readers who want a thorough grounding in assertiveness techniques would benefit more from classics like When I Say No, I Feel Guilty, instead of this hodgepodge of excuses.$40,000 ad/promo.
