Ask for What You Want—and Rejoice in the No

A field supervisor once told me that, and I had to sit with it a while before I saw the wisdom. A no isn’t a rejection: it’s a person naming the limits of their capacity. And when someone does that clearly, they’re giving us a gift by showing us who they are and what they can offer. We might feel a little disappointed in the moment, but we’re spared a much bigger letdown later.

That’s why I appreciated this piece on how to say no kindly and effectively. The “Yes-No-Yes” framework is a generous, grounded way to decline with care, and a reminder that saying no skillfully is just as important as learning how to hear it well.