“Let me think about it.”

These are words we need to get comfortable using.  How many times did “yes” roll off your tongue only to regret it later?  How many times was that “yes” a HUGE “yes”?  And not only did you regret it, but stress crept deep into your bones over the commitment you just made in haste?

Does saying “let me think about it” make you feel uneasy?  Guilty?  It should never feel wrong to put yourself first when it comes to making a commitment.  Only you can gauge what you have time for and what opportunities are right for the limited time you have.  It is perfectly appropriate to ask for a short period of time to evaluate your priorities, availability, and resources. There is no commandment that says “Thou must always say yes.” Instead, it is a blessing to give of your time doing what is most important to you.

What is the problem with saying “yes” when you really needed to say “no”?   It creates a resentful aura around you that is not fair to yourself or to the receiver.  When you give, it should be happily, so it creates genuine joy for you and the other person.

If you are asking for a commitment from someone, accept a “let me think about it” response.  It is not fair to expect an automatic “yes.”  If you do expect a “yes” and are offended by a “no” or “let me think about it” response, that is a problem.  It may be self-centered to have such high expectations.  Very rarely does someone owe us blindly.

“Let me think about it.”

This a statement of self love, and it is quite a pearl.  Learning to say it with confidence is a gift to yourself.

Photo by Rob Schreckhise on Unsplash