Default No

I was always told to say "yes." Saying "yes" opens doors to opportunities you would never have received otherwise.

To respond in the affirmative is the commonsense advice given in the world.

Say yes to the latest invitation.
Say yes to the latest gathering.
Say yes to dinners, events, and people because one thing will likely lead to another better thing.

But what about saying "no?"

For many, declining dinners, events, people, and requests is much more difficult. We've been taught that it could be construed as "rude" or ungrateful or, worse yet, turning your back on the possibilities that a "yes" would more likely than not give you.

I say that because of the difficulty that "no" brings, we should say "no" to more things because it's not all that negative. A "no" opens up the possibility to create space in your life by giving you time. A "no" to an event may give you time with your family and loved ones or time to work on a project you've been pursuing. A negative response might open the door to new ideas, as time alone often produces.

Saying "no" is gifting yourself time and space to work on what you want, and to surround yourself with the loved ones you want; and as far as I can see, those are also amazing opportunities.