No Means No! The Importance Of Standing Strong In Your Know To Say No

There comes a time in every person’s life when they will have to make a decision. Some decisions are simple, while others are much more difficult. Ultimately once a decision has been made, it can be difficult to undo the results. Sometimes this is the exact reason we should learn how to appropriately say no or wait.

The “Yes-Man”

Some of us will remember a movie called the “Yes Man” starring Jim Carrey back from 2008. Essentially it was a character who was often in the habit of saying “No” all of the time. As a result, he missed out on many things in life. Through the plot of the movie, he switched to saying “Yes” to everything. Thus, the comedy ensued through the antics of him saying “Yes” to some of the silliest and random things. The satirical part of this is the direct correlation it can have on our lives. Some of say, “Yes” as a part of appeasing everyone, whereas others do it for fear of missing out (FOMO). Although saying, “Yes” to things in life is not a bad thing, it can come with a price. This is the humorous irony Jim Carrey’s character found out in the movie. It can put you in strange circumstances or can potentially hinder you.

The “No-Man”

By definition, I would classify myself as being historically a “No Man.” I do not like trying new things or going outside of my comfort zone. I do not like change, and I love my routines. However, on the opposite of the spectrum from Jim Carrey’s character saying, “Yes” all of the time, I say, “No.” This comes at a price as well. I do not find myself in random situations, eventful happenings, or deviating from what I see as a norm. In short, I do not really have much of an exciting life. Sure, my wife and I still do some trips or attend events, but these have to be looooong planned out in advance. I am currently changing this adverse nature to trying new things, but it takes time. My loving wife has been beneficial to help along the through many bouts of spontaneity.

Know Your “No”

Understanding the power of “No” can be crucial to your success. This is especially true with your finances. I struggle with saying, “Yes” to purchases or spending a lot of money. Others may have the opposite attributes. This is where the importance of having “No” in your arsenal is important. Saying, “No” to the right thing can ultimately save you time, money, and heartache later. Although the FOMO will be strong, it will be best to not proceed at all or to simply wait it out to avoid impulse buying. In either sense, you won’t be worse off than you would have been before. Yes, you may feel like you are, but this is the FOMO kicking in harder. The truth is because you decided not to proceed it can be nearly impossible to fully understand what it is you missed out on. You cannot predict an alternate reality’s future, so stop stressing about it.

My “No”

Although I delegate the “No” much of the time, there are also times where the “Yes” in me is more prevalent. This was especially true this last weekend. I went to look at truck listing which was brand new on the site. It had everything I could possibly want from the make, model, trim, color, etc. The truck even had an advanced premium package which the others had not had yet. It was a year newer than what I had been looking at with limited mileage and about the same price as the others. Basically, it was nearly perfect! I had run the numbers for what I could expect to be charged five times before we even went over to the dealership. We knew exactly what I was getting into. I had also cleaned out my car and only got half a tank of gas with the expectation of possibly making a deal. I was ready to say, “Yes to the truck!

Decision Time “Yes” Or “No”

After we each got to test drive the truck we still loved it. We went as far as to have the dealer run through the initial paperwork with us to break down the costs. The numbers matched up nearly identical to what I had estimated (not much of a shocker). Unfortunately, there was something off about the whole scenario. I already do not like change, but this was something different. It got very real, very quick. I was making a transition over from a sedan to a truck, and it didn’t feel like this was the right truck. It would have been better if the dealer had been willing to work with the haggle, but they stonewalled me. This would have been so easy to agree and get this truck. There was nothing wrong with the financial impact, and there did not seem to be anything inherently wrong with the vehicle. It was a big decision. Although it pained me to walk away from something I so desperately wanted, and have dreamed about, I had to throw the “No” out there. It was time to walk away and think about it. So we got the information and walked out.

The Power Of “No”

The wisdom and decisiveness to use “Yes” or “No” is attributable to the person’s own self-awareness or potential spiritual connection. As I am a Christian, there was a great deal of prayer going into this ordeal. It was through the wisdom gained through the Holy Spirit and God which allowed me to walk away. Others who do not have this spiritual connection might use self-awareness/self-discipline to make a decision. In either case, we walked away. It has since been made clear to both Jordan and me to not pursue this particular vehicle right now. Although we do not know why we do know that it will all work out in the end. Now, does this mean I am going to quit shopping for one and talking about it? “No.”