I am a husband, writer, and teacher exploring what it means to cultivate mental silence.

No!

No!There are positive and negative consequences to saying no. Saying no insulates, it protects. It tells others you are not of the mind to give up what you cherish...your time. I'm wondering though...is there nuance in how the "no" can be said? Are the negative consequences "less negative" in that nuance? My gut response to my own question is...no.The person who says no cannot control how those affected will respond nor does s/he usually care. I say this (speaking from experience) because saying no is usually in response to someone (or group) wanting to take up my time...time I want to be using doing other things.Saying no simultaneously opens doors and closes doors. It opens doors to the person who utters "the word" and closes them to the person (or group) requesting access "in." We've all been told no before. We all know how no can feel. I'd like people requesting access "in" to remember this...Are you asking at the right time...for the person whose time and attention you seek?If no...expect...and be ok with an immediate no.If yes...you may still get a no...just because it's a good time for them does not mean that they should say yes.I say "no" not to hurt or disappoint...I say it as a part of my quest for mental silence...to keep my life simple, quiet, calm, focused.

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