GETTING ALONG WITHOUT GOING ALONG

If you’re a people pleaser like me, you tend to want to make others happy to your own detriment. I remember visiting my friend and she welcomed me to her house with a tall desert glass of milkshake. It looked really yummy and it was a very kind gesture. Deep down in my heart I really didn’t want to partake of the milkshake because of the health goals I had given myself.

How would I tell my new friend no? How could I let her down? If I didn’t take the milkshake, how would she feel. I had such mixed feelings and I didn’t know what to do. I finally caved in and half-heartedly drank the milkshake to my friends delight.

Down went the unhealthy dense calories. I tinged as the  familiar taste of the overly sugary milkshake went down my  throat. Why this again I cried to myself as I arrived home. Why could I not say NO? I felt like a failure. I couldn’t stand up to this situation.

I am now learning the better way of getting along without going along. In order to feel strong and not down the next time I am faced with such a situation I will:

• Realise I am not in control of someone’s response to my choices.
• Know that Saying No to something is saying Yes to myself and my future.
• Prepare myself mentally and inform someone of my food preferences where necessary.
• Be gentle and firm in saying No.