Ninja No

Do you struggle to say "No"?
Are you one of hundreds of people  doing too many things because you can't get that tiny word out? Have you got an outfit you didn't want, a diary full of terrible parties and a credit card bill of things you don't need? 
It does feel awful to say NO, as this article from Life Hacker tells us - but sometimes it is exactly what we should say.

 "Do you want another drink?"
"No!"
"Do you want to stay the night?"
"No!"
"Do you want to watch Anchorman 2?"
"No!"

You can't go to all the dinner parties, fill out all the spreadsheets and do an extra shift or seven just because someone asks you. 


Need some practise? Try this simple improv exercise:

Make a circle with 10 people.
One goes in the middle.
One by one, people jump into the centre and demand something of the person in the middle.
       "Can you file this report?" "Can you pay my mortgage?" "Will you be my best friend?"
The person in the middle has to reply with "No! But I..." and complete the sentence.
The person requesting help has to respond with either "Thank you" or an irritated "Fine".
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. 
Discuss how it makes you feeeeeeeeeeeeel.
Ask if anyone wants to play it again.
Everyone shout "No"!
Everyone laugh like the end of an episode of Thundercats.