Gently close your eyes,
Take a deep breath in through your nose,
Feeling the cool air fill your lungs,
And then slowly exhale through your mouth,
Releasing all the tension in your body.
Once again,
Breath in deeply,
This time visualizing a soft,
Soothing light surrounding you,
And exhale even more slowly as this light dissolves any discomfort or stress.
Gradually,
Your breath settles into a natural,
Calming rhythm.
Now,
Imagine yourself sitting on the shore of a calm lake,
The waters clear,
Reflecting the blue sky.
Each of your breath is a gentle wave caressing the shore.
You are in harmony with this place,
Here,
Nothing rushes you,
Nothing demands of you,
You are free to be entirely yourself,
In this peaceful space,
Let this simple yet profound truth come to you,
You have the right to say NO.
Saying NO is an act of love for yourself and for others,
It's about setting healthy boundaries,
Just like a gardener protects their flowers by putting up a fence.
Saying NO is not a barrier against the world,
But an invitation to honor your inner space,
To define the contours of your personality,
An aligned NO protects more than it separates.
Imagine yourself standing before a grand,
Majestic tree,
Its roots are deep,
Firmly anchored in the earth,
Far beneath the surface,
Its branches stretch toward the sky,
Vast and free,
This tree represents your interactions with the world,
Each leaf symbolizes an opportunity,
A request,
A decision.
Look at this tree,
It doesn't carry all the leaves in the world,
It doesn't try to embrace everything,
And yet it is whole,
It is perfect.
Find among the branches a leaf that feels heavy,
Burdensome,
This leaf represents a yes,
You gave that doesn't resonate with your heart,
Approach this leaf,
You have the right to detach it,
You have the right to release this energy,
To let it return to the earth,
Then in a simple and respectful gesture,
Let the leaf fall,
Watch it drift away on the wind,
Knowing that the NO you've just embodied is a yes to yourself,
Saying NO is an act of alignment,
It allows you to honor your time,
Your energy,
Your values.
By saying NO to what doesn't nourish you,
You say YES to what truly matters.
Saying YES when you want to say NO is like planting a small lie,
A lie to yourself and to others,
These lies,
No matter how subtle,
Become energy drains,
They gradually erode your inner clarity,
Because every forced YES diverts your energy from what's essential.
When these insincere YESes pile up,
They create a weight that stifles you,
Pulling you away from your truth,
This weight can lead to frustration and even anger toward others,
Often this anger stems from our own indulgence of behaviors we've allowed by saying YES against our will.
Saying NO,
Therefore,
Offers you clarity and peace while giving others a relationship built on truth,
Transparency and mutual respect.
A sincere NO carries no rejection or harshness,
It embodies fairness,
Assertiveness and coherence.
Think of a recent situation where,
Instead of saying NO,
You said YES,
A YES that didn't resonate with your heart or boundaries,
Gently bring this situation to mind,
As if you were observing it from the outside,
Without judgment.
Now,
Imagine yourself in that precise moment,
Feeling your posture grow stronger,
More grounded,
This time,
Instead of yielding to pressure,
You choose to listen to yourself,
You take a slow,
Deliberate breath,
And with calm and kindness,
You say NO,
Observe the reaction around you,
Perhaps the other person receives this NO without resistance,
And to process it,
No matter the reaction,
You know this NO is right,
It is not selfish,
It is necessary.
Feel what changes within you,
Your chest feels lighter,
Your mind clearer,
This NO frees energy that was blocked,
And that energy returns to you,
Ready to be used for what truly matters.
Stay in this sensation of calm strength,
You don't need to accept everything to be loved,
And you don't have to lose yourself to meet others' expectations,
This NO is an act of truth towards yourself,
A choice for your well-being,
When you're ready,
Let this vision fade,
But carry with you this feeling of clarity and freedom,
Now gently return to your breath,
To this peaceful space you've created,
Here you are strong,
Centered,
You've learned that saying NO is an act of balance,
A way to affirm your sacred space,
Carry this awareness into your daily life,
Like a beacon guiding your choices,
If you feel ready,
Slowly move your fingers and toes,
Then your arms and legs,
Gently massage your face,
And when it's ok,
Open your eyes slowly,
Bringing with you this newfound clarity and quiet strength,
Take care.
