This exercise is particularly helpful for people who have difficulties saying “no” – to proposals they get from others, to requests from others that they can’t or don’t want to fulfill, to demands or to agreements they do not really want to make. If you belong to these kind of people who always do what others want, trying to please them – even if you would prefer to not do that, and if you are always afraid of the consequences of a “no” – try this exercise.
How to Do It:
1. Stand in front of a mirror where you can see your face and preferably at least the upper part of your body. Whilst looking at yourself, start saying “no”.
2. You can say “no” in any way you want – with anger, with determinism, with regret, furious, timidly, carefully, sad – do it however you feel like at the very moment.
3. Do this for about two minutes.
4. Then end off with this part of the exercise and look at yourself and give yourself a smile. Try all kind of smiles and see which ones you like best and with which ones you feel you look best. Do this for about two minutes – then end off.
5. Repeat the exercise next day and continue to do so, until you feel it becomes easier and easier for you to say no.
