The Hidden Consequences of Always Putting Others First—Are You Unknowingly Hurting Yourself?
5) Feeling guilty for saying ‘no’
I’ve struggled with this one a lot. Whenever I say ‘no’ to someone, a wave of guilt washes over me.
It feels like I’m letting them down, like I’m not living up to the expectations they have of me.
There was a time when a relative asked me to babysit at the last minute.
Despite having an important work deadline, I found it hard to refuse. I ended up saying yes, jeopardizing my work and feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
That’s when I realized that saying ‘no’ is not a crime. It’s okay to refuse when your plate is already full. You need to protect your time and energy for your own well-being.
