32. NO-Cember: When to Say, "Yes" and When to Just Say, "NO"

Honest Women

Welcome back to the Honest Women Podcast! As we bid farewell to No-vember, we're diving straight into No-Cember. Today, we're getting honest about the challenges of saying 'yes' and 'no,' especially as the holiday season approaches.

In today's episode, we get honest about:

The No-Cember Trend:

• Reflecting on the "No-vember" trend and extending it into December.
• Exploring the challenges of deciding when to say "yes" and when to confidently say, "NO!"

Barriers to Responding to Invitations:

• The struggles of an extrovert: Balancing social commitments.
• The struggles of an introvert: Identifying when to say, "YES!"
• Overcoming the fear of disappointing others.

Weighing the Impact:

• Debating between attending an event you're not enthusiastic about versus declining and potentially upsetting someone.
• Addressing the fear of backlash and setting boundaries.

Holiday Magic vs. Realistic Choices:

• Balancing the desire to make the holidays magical with the reality of limitations.
• Navigating situations where you want to attend, but your partner does not.

Navigating Multiple Invitations:

• Social etiquette and strategies for handling multiple invitations on the same day.
• Waiting for the date of an annual event and handling conflicting schedules.

What to Prioritize:

• Distinguishing between what you need to show up for versus what is optional.
• Evaluating personal desires and available resources.

The Art of Saying 'No':

• Sharing personal frameworks for decision-making.
• Advocating for honesty in declining invitations and the positive impact it can have.

Handling Rejections:

• Discussing the effectiveness of being open, honest, and vulnerable when declining.
• Acknowledging the challenges of a simple "no" with little explanation.

As we navigate the holiday season and enter No-Cember, let's embrace the power of honest communication in setting boundaries. Remember, it's okay to prioritize your well-being and be intentional about the commitments you choose to take on.

Connect with Us:

Follow Honest Women Podcast @honestwomenpodcast

Follow Jessica: @jlhutchisonlcpc

Follow Andrea: @andreaburkly

Learn more about the Honest Women Podcast: www.honestwomenpodcast.com

Honest Women is the podcast for every woman juggling the demands of modern life (while trying to keep her shit together) and finding that it’s all just a little more difficult than she thought it would be. Your hosts, Andrea Burkly and Jessica Hutchison, are two very real mental health professionals who are taking honest conversations from inside their offices to the outside world.

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