Q&A for How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty

Your emotions and self-care are not something you should be apologetic for, and other people’s struggle to accept "no" for an answer is not something you are accountable for.

If you have concrete evidence or feel it your guts something is wrong, you should be honest about how you feel and end the relationship. End it fast and hard, so that you don't have the chance to waffle about it. Relationships are built on love and trust, not doubt and fear.

If someone is threatening you, then this is not a relationship worth keeping. You don't threaten people you care about. This is bullying. I like to bring it to their attention so they see how they are interacting by asking them, "Do you realize the way you are asking me to do this for you is from a place of bullying? Is this the way you really want to be perceived?" It is remarkable the amount of healing that can happen when we speak honestly with each other.

Yes, but keep in mind that an explanation might help the other person understand.

You have to learn to say no, even if it feels mean. People can't always get what they want. Just be respectful and assert yourself.

Just be friendly and ask if she/he could move their car onto their driveway.

Well, you sound like you know that your guilty feelings are irrational, so just keep telling yourself that. You had something else you had to do. If you feel like you must "make it up to him/her" despite not having done anything wrong, just say something like "Hey, I felt terrible about missing your event the other night, can we get together soon and you can tell me all about it?"

As they say, the manner in which you inform the person is up to you, the acceptance or rejection is not. Be calm, polite, and to the point. That's all you can do. If they hate you for it, that is up to them (and may reveal a lot about them). If they are a decent person, they may be disappointed, but they will appreciate the honesty and honor your decision.

If you don't have money you can spend, just tell them you simply cannot. They should understand. If they are a little disappointed, say there will be time in the future where you can all go traveling.

Be firm when you say "no" and explain your reasons why you don't want to bunk. A good friend will understand.

If you only see her a few times, then don't feel obliged to do a lot for her. It may sound cruel, but sometimes you have to think of yourself first.

What you do in your own time is your business. If you followed the rules for requesting a day off and it was granted, then all anyone can do is politely ask if you could possibly come in anyway. If you can't, then you can't. There shouldn't be any consequences.

It doesn't matter. Even (perhaps especially) best friends need to respect boundaries. You need to be able to say no to your friend without fearing the loss of the friendship.

Talk to your team members about work distribution. If possible, come up with a detailed list of each portion of the project and who is responsible for what. If they say they don't have time or don't want to contribute to the project, you should let your teacher know so they will have an idea about who contributed what to the final project before it's turned in (and can grade each team member appropriately).

Look out the window to see who is at the door. If it's a salesperson, don't answer it.

This is a good thing, you should say "no" and you should not feel guilty about it. Furthermore, if your friend plans to do something that could endanger himself or someone else, you should tell an authority figure.

Just tell your friend the truth - you don't like that thing and don't want to spend your money on it. Maybe you guys can compromise and agree on a different matching thing that you both like.

As you grow up, you learn to become more and more independent. All parents, regardless of their approach to parenting, want their children to grow up strong, confident and independent. If you disagree with something they ask, say or do, politely ask to discuss the matter in more detail. Explain your point of view, ask how they see it and be open to their input. Be convinced of your own ideas, but don't be stubborn if they are right. Even strict parents will respect you for standing up for what you think and for being polite and strong.

Simply tell her that you already have plans that day and you can't break them. If the musical is running for more than one day, see if you can make it to another performance.

Try to be nice and polite about it. It’s your baby and you decide who takes care of her. Tell the person no thank you, and that you will let them know if you need child care.

Tell them in a calm, nice voice. Don't yell or act like you don't care that much.

You could simply walk away. Or you could ask yourself why you're saying no to a friend.

Talk to your parents about how you feel. Maybe a compromise can be worked out. Keep in mind, though, this is an important part of growing up, and sometimes you will have to step out of your comfort zone.

Just tell them about your past experience by explaining the last time you lent your laptop to someone, they broke it.

Saying no is nothing to feel guilty about. Your sister has no right to make decisions for you about how you spend your time. Just say, "This weekend isn't good for me." That is all the explanation you owe her, but if you really want to make an excuse, you can add, "I'm not feeling well and I need to get some rest, I don't want any company."

You set limits and firmly but compassionately say no once your limit is reached. It's fine to lend every now and then (though you're probably better off just making it a gift if this person is so down and out), but continually providing money to someone you resent giving money to isn't healthy.

Just say it. You need to be there for her as a responsible adult. Spoiling her is not going to help her in the long run.

Just say no. Just remember that she has just acted nicely, so say something like: "I'd love to share it but it's the only one I have and it's really precious to me and I can't afford a new one if something happens to it. So, I have decided this is something I won't share. But you can borrow my XYZ instead if you'd like."