Say NO to the approval of others

Our Team Nutrition call yesterday was another inspiring one; getting to the root developments of sustainable change. Our discussion was heavily weighed on the 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙤

Take inventory of all the things to which you’re saying 𝒚𝒆𝒔 to when it comes to deciding against eating healthy and exercising, and ask yourself if it’s possible to start saying ‘𝒏𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖’. You don’t always have to decline, but even saying 𝒏𝒐 more often will help.

We’re raised as children to demonstrate great manners and act politely. It’s one of my Rules that I follow to this day. We learn that saying please and thank you can take us a long way with respect, to and from others. And if you possibly can, we're conditioned to say 𝗬𝗘𝗦 when people ask us favors. Many of us over-commit ourselves to things because we don’t want to say 𝗡𝗢 and disappoint others. We’re trained to be people pleasers, which means saying 𝙮𝙚𝙨 to things that we know we should be saying 𝙣𝙤.

In the process of becoming our healthiest, most energized selves, it’s critical that we build the habit of saying 𝗡𝗢. 𝗡𝗢 to unhealthy foods, 𝗡𝗢 to laziness and lack of discipline, and 𝗡𝗢 to others attempting to derail us (whether intentional or not). 𝗡𝗢 is the most powerful 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 word in the dictionary, but learning to reject other peoples wishes takes practice.

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 to the 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 of other people is a powerful habit requiring a thoughtful strategy. The desire to be liked has deep roots, and we unconsciously attempt to fulfill their desires even if it’s unrealistic and harmful to us.

For example, Do you know anyone who would give in to unhealthy foods at parties or barbecues because they didn’t want to upset the host or hostess. Even myself, many years back, I’d find myself eating the hot dogs and birthday cake, succumbing to the approval from my friends or the mere peer pressure. How about anyone you know that would skip workouts when friends or family spontaneously create social plans or request help with something? We tend to place others needs over our own, and allow for potential future resentment when 𝙬𝙚 were the one’s that chose to do it over our own commitments to ourself.

As I’m a continuous student of personal development and learning about approval addiction, I’m realizing how people (including myself) were or are full-blown addicts. I’ve been monitoring and altering my own behavior personally. Now I try to say 𝒚𝒆𝒔 when I can, but usually say 𝒏𝒐 to people and things not in my best interest. This change in behavior has saved me vast amounts of time and energy, and it makes me feel more in control of my life. The only downside is that some people don’t understand this concept, and it has cost me a few friends along the way that have walked off the Bus. This is ok, I suggest you too guard your energy the best you can, be tough on your standards and not on your people, and be the 𝒚𝒆𝒔 ma'am/sir of your own life first.

Making the decisions that support accomplishing 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 goals first is a habit and it’s worth the price you pay for it.

What are you going to say 𝙣𝙤 to in the next 7 days that doesn't serve your best intentions? Something that you normally would have said 𝙮𝙚𝙨 to.