A Positive No

“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” – Matthew 5:37 We each have the power to practice a positive no. Saying no doesn’t have to be negative — in fact, it can be one of the most affirming things you do. I first learned this concept from William Ury’s book, The Power of the Positive No, and it changed the way I think about boundaries entirely. I say no to people all the time. I’ve said no to my closest friends, family members, board members, and people I deeply respect and want to help. I’ve even said no to my daughter — which, if you know her, is really saying something. So here’s how you do it right: the positive no follows a simple structure — yes, no, yes. Think of it as a no-sandwich. Say someone applies for