How often do we not say yes when we actually mean no? Quite often, because it’s easier for many reasons. With this you may avoid hassles, discussions and perhaps arguments. Or maybe you avoid confrontation. But are you actually doing yourself a favour, because you are not listening to your heart at that moment.
Another important reason to say no is to set and protect your own boundaries. Or as my father would say, if you’ve walked all over me once, don’t get to go back and forth. Then no is a very clear message: up to here and no further.
Many think that no is the opposite of yes, but if you think about it carefully, no comes from yes. For example, if you say no to a nice job that requires you to drive an hour, because you say yes to that you take your children to school yourself.
And once you know what you want, you also know whether you want to say yes or no to that. So no is not necessarily negative either, any more than yes is positive.