Audaciously Abra: The Audacity to Say No

Maxwell Clay

By Abra Sickles

“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage, pleasantly smilingly, non-apologetically, to say no to other things.” —Stephen R. Covey

I used to think saying yes made me generous. Reliable. Easy to work with. Easy to love.

What it really made me was exhausted.

For a long time, I believed that my value lived in my availability. If I could just show up more, do more, give more, then maybe I’d be enough. So, I said yes when I was

tired. Yes, when I was stretched thin. Yes, when my spirit was quietly asking for rest.

I didn’t realize that every unnecessary yes was a quiet no to myself.

Learning to say no didn’t happen all at once. It came in pieces. A declined invitation here. A boundary there. A moment when I finally paused long enough to ask myself, do I want to do this, or am I afraid of disappointing someone?

Here’s the truth I had to learn the hard way.

No is a complete sentence.

It doesn’t require an explanation. It doesn’t need justification. It doesn’t mean you are selfish, difficult, or unkind. It means you are honest. It means you are listening to yourself. It means you are choosing alignment over approval. Sometimes the answer really is just no. No remix. No follow-up. No explanation required.

The audacity to say no is the audacity to protect your energy.

It’s understanding that you don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to overextend to be worthy. You don’t have to be everything to everyone to be someone of value.

Saying no is not rejection. It’s redirection.

What surprised me most was this. The more I honored my no, the stronger my yes became. When I said yes, I meant it. I showed up fuller. Clearer. More present. My relationships deepened because they were no longer built on obligation, but on intention.

Audacity doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it whispers.

Sometimes it sounds like a calm, grounded no spoken without guilt. Sometimes it looks like choosing yourself even when it feels unfamiliar. Sometimes it feels uncomfortable at first, because growth often does.

If you’re in a season where you feel pulled in too many directions, consider this your permission slip. You are allowed to say no. You are allowed to change your mind.

You are allowed to choose what sustains you.

That isn’t selfish.

That’s self-respect.

And that takes audacity.

Live loud. Stay audacious.

Abra Sickles is an emerging writer who explores personal growth, courage, and the power of authenticity. Through thoughtful and introspective storytelling, Abra fosters deep connections by sharing experiences and stories that resonate. She invites readers to embrace their authentic selves and to see how we all fit together like puzzle pieces in the larger tapestry of life, inspiring reflection, growth, and purposeful living.

audaciouslyabra@gmail.com