Is Saying “No” Still Socially Difficult?

A lot of people have difficulty in saying no. Actually, I also fall into this category, I cannot say no, I am too much conscious about what other people think, I am too much conscious about not hurting the other people. Are you also someone who struggles to refuse requests? Is guilt the main reason for not being able to clearly say no? How do you save yourself conflict when you say no? Do you think learning to say can actually improve your life?

I used to say yes to everything.

Then I finally broke down and said NO.

Now I say no about 80% of the time. It feels better to do it. Once you try it, it's not that difficult thereafter.

Saying yes too much will put too much strain on you. Say no and take care of you for once!

Yes, for many people it still is. Saying no often triggers fear of conflict, guilt, or being judged as selfish. Social norms reward agreeableness, so setting boundaries can feel risky, even when it’s necessary for mental health and balance.

As children, most of us were taught to always be nice people. And that meant always saying "Yes" to people, being a good team player. So we have grown up with that child mentality that we have to agree to what people say and be compliant even when it doesn't favour us. That's not good for survival in this age of manipulation because everyone is selfish.

I've learned to say "no" more now that I did when I was just starting out as an adult. I use to say "yes" to everything when I first hit adulthood but now I'm trying to protect my peace more. Life is too short being miserable because you're trying to please everyone at the expense of your own sanity and peace.

I'm not saying let's be mean to everyone. But there are people out there that will take advantage of people who say "yes" all the time and exploit that, especially when you're at work.

I think saying “no” can still feel socially difficult. Many people worry about disappointing others, damaging relationships, or seeming uncooperative. It takes practice to set boundaries confidently while remaining polite and clear about your limits.