Saying No Without Feeling Guilty - Day 17

Ep. 151 - Saying No Without Feeling Guilty - Day 17 

🔹 Episode Summary:

Struggling to say no without guilt? In today’s Momentum Month episode, we’re breaking down why saying no is essential for protecting your time and energy—and how to do it gracefully. I’ll share simple scripts for saying no to personal and professional obligations without feeling like a jerk, plus how setting boundaries actually creates more opportunities for the things that truly matter.

🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ Why saying no is a necessary skill (not a selfish act)

✔️ Simple scripts to say no without over-explaining

✔️ How to set boundaries without guilt or fear of disappointing others

✔️ Why saying no actually makes space for better opportunities

🔹 Resources & Next Steps:

✨ Want more support in setting boundaries and reclaiming your time? Join The Village for real conversations and coaching: [Insert Link]

✨ Let’s connect! Follow me on Instagram [@YourHandle] for more mindset shifts & business tips

https://christinaslaback.com/2025/02/17/day-17-how-to-say-no-without-feeling-guilty-and-why-its-essential/

Resources Mentioned:

• Join The Village: Click here to connect with our community.
• Sign up for the Momentum Challenge: Click here to get started.

Resources & Links

• Follow Christina @christinaslaback
• Email us at hello@christinaslaback.com
• www.christinaslaback.com

Transcript

Day 17 - Art of Saying No

Christina: [00:00:00] Saying no is uncomfortable. We don't want to disappoint people, and we definitely don't want to feel like we're letting someone down. So how do we set boundaries without feeling like a jerk? How to say no gracefully. 

Welcome to Clear and On Purpose, the podcast designed to help you cut through the noise and get back to what matters most. If you're feeling stuck but need to take intentional action, you're in the right place. I'm Kristina Slaibach, homeschooling mom of two and life and business coach, helping you drop in and align with your values and create more space.

Each week I'll be sharing practical insights and simple, Actual steps to help you find clarity, boost your energy and design a life that balances ambition with. Let's dive in and get clear on purpose.

Welcome [00:01:00] back to Momentum Month. We are cruising through this challenge and today we're tackling something that is so simple in theory but so hard in practice. Say no. If you have ever felt guilty about turning down a request, struggled to set boundaries, or worried that saying no makes you seem selfish, this one's for you.

Saying no isn't just about protecting your time. It's about protecting your energy, your priorities, and your well being. So today we're breaking down exactly how to say no without guilt, and without burning bridges. Why saying no is essential? If you're saying yes to everything, it's exhausting.

It spreads you too thin, it leaves you overwhelmed, and fills your time with things that don't [00:02:00] align with your priorities. Every time you say yes to something you don't really want to do, you're saying no to something else. Whether that's time with your family, progress on your goals, or even just your own peace.

But I get it. Saying no is uncomfortable. We don't want to disappoint people, and we definitely don't want to feel like we're letting someone down. So how do we set boundaries without feeling like a jerk? How to say no gracefully. All right, let's talk about some simple scripts because sometimes we know we need to say no, but we just don't know how to say it.

So first, the simple no. No is a complete sentence in and of itself. You don't owe anyone an explanation. You don't need to give them more information. But sometimes that can seem really harsh. So for times when [00:03:00] you need a straightforward response, you can say I appreciate you thinking of me, but I can't commit to that right now.

That sounds great, but I have to pass this time. No over explaining, no long winded justifications, just clear, And this is something that I think that we often forget is that being clear is kind. Nobody has to worry about guessing whether you actually mean what you say, if you're actually going to follow through with what you say.

They don't have to feel like they can't ask you for a favor for fear you'll overcommit yourself.

Being clear is kind. And it allows other people the space to be clear as well. let's talk about another kind of no. The not right now no. For situations where you would be interested, just not at this time. [00:04:00] So, I'd love to, but my plate is really full right now, can we check in next month? Or, I'm focusing on other priorities at the moment, but I'd love to revisit this later.

This keeps the door open without overcommitting. Use these for things that you're genuinely interested in. The delegation note. When you can't do something, but you can offer an alternative. Maybe, I can't take that on, but have you asked, and then offer someone who would be potentially interested in that?

Or, that's not something I can commit to, but can I help you brainstorm another solution? Or, I can't help you move on Saturday, but I'd be happy to help you pack up boxes on Wednesday. So these are great ways to be helpful without sacrificing your own boundaries.

And one of the biggest questions is, what if people think I'm selfish? One of our [00:05:00] biggest fears around saying no is worrying about how others will perceive us. But let's flip that. When you respect your own time, others are more likely to respect it too. And the people who genuinely care about you, they will not be upset if you set boundaries.

They'll probably even be grateful. And the people who are upset, usually benefited from your lack of boundaries in the first place. And you might want to rethink those relationships. Setting limits doesn't make you selfish. It makes you intentional. It makes your actions and your time align with your intentions.

And when you say no to things that drain you, you're making space for things that truly matter. When you say yes to things you don't actually want to be involved in, even if you show up, you're not showing [00:06:00] up in that full energy and that full you. By saying no to the things that don't light you up, you give more space for all the things that do, the things that you want to give your time and energy to.

So today I want you to practice one thing, and that's saying no to something that isn't aligned with your priorities. It can be as small as declining an extra project at work, skipping an event that you don't actually want to attend, or setting a boundary in your personal life. And when you do, notice how it feels.

You might feel relief. You might feel lighter. You might even feel empowered. And if you don't, if you're noticing that you're feeling guilty, or you're feeling selfish, look at that too, that's information. Is it because of other people's expectations? Are you saying no to something that aligns? [00:07:00] Because every time you say no to something that doesn't serve you, you're saying yes to what actually does.

If this episode resonated with you, share with a friend who needs this reminder. And if you need support in setting better boundaries, come join the village where we're having real conversations about protecting our time, energy, and our goals. You can say no without guilt. And you deserve to make space for what truly matters.

I'll see you next time.

Thank you for tuning in to Clear and On Purpose. If you're ready to take intentional steps toward a more fulfilling life and want to customize the approach, I'd love to work with you. Visit www. christinaslayback. com to schedule a free consultation or explore current offers designed to help you gain clarity and reclaim your energy.

And don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with a friend if you found it helpful. [00:08:00] It helps others find the show and grow our community.