If you have trouble saying no – maybe you would like some help!  We all struggle at times to say no – especially to friends, relatives, or good causes.  What helps you say no?  For me, it helps to think of some ideas in advance and even practice saying them.  I try to imagine myself saying things like “It is such a great project and I wish I could help, but I can’t right now.”  I see myself saying such things with grace and ease and in a way that does not destroy the relationship or eliminate future possibilities.

A friend of mine is working on not saying yes – when she means no.  I think that this is a great spiritual and personal growth quest.  It is the ultimate kindness to ourselves to only put our energy where we want to, where we can be most productive – not necessarily where other people think we should be putting our time and resources.  As we align our time and money with our values, I believe we become more intentional, more productive, and happier.  We experience less guilt, more confidence, and step more solidly onto our own path.

Take a look at this link for more ideas on honest ways to say no.

http://glo.msn.com/relationships/no-can-do-1533109.story?gt1=49006

Do women feel more guilt than men?   A recent study looks at the difference between how men and women react when work interferes with their family time.  The study found that “women feel 40% more distress than men when family life is frequently interrupted by… electronic devices or other types of contact, despite being under the same amount of work pressure.”   The study suggests that women may unconsciously carry the feeling that their full attention ought to be on their home lives – perhaps left over from images of their mothers devoting themselves to the family, rather than work.  What do you think?  Do you feel guilty when work interrupts you at home or just irritated or just fine?  Is this a case, where it makes sense to look at how men deal with things and see what we can learn?

Read the article at http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=1498535353.