1. Saying No to say Yes!
Making room for what matters and what supports our becoming our best selves in community.

2. Why do I say yes when I want to say no?
Approval and validation we receive (at doing what is asked of us)
is as old as our 6 month old self! Necessary to survive.
As we mature though we need to learn that we do not rely on those things or people outside ourselves for validation. We must learn to make choices according to our values and our needs without getting approval from others. Sometimes we will need to make decisions that others actively disapprove of and thus setting boundaries is a challenge!
We can burn out when we do not grow and use inner resources that come with faith, learning and maturity.
Faith: we can rely on our unending Source for love, healing and forgiveness. We can learn in faith communities what values we want to use to make decisions.
Learning and study: we can ask for help, we can study and reflect on our feelings and reactions before making Yes and No decisions.
Maturity: we can learn and practice self soothing and self care; we can co-create with others healthy relationships where we can both give and receive safely.

3. At one extreme, there is during an event/action no engagement raised
HOW BEST CAN WE DECIDE IF WE WANT TO
SAY YES OR NO? REFLECT ON WHERE YOU ARE
ON THESE “ENERGY MEASURES”
Engagement levels
(during an event how do you feel)
At one extreme, there is during an event/action no engagement raised
Bored, not interested enough to participate
Perhaps there is even negative engagement raised
Find oneself giving snappy, gossipy, or negative input, Talking out of turn/side conversations at session.
At one extreme, there is during an event/action Positive Engagement
Event brings about challenging learning and one feels an ease in participating
Hope arises

4. At one extreme, there is negative energy raised and poor choices
HOW BEST CAN WE DECIDE IF WE WANT TO
SAY YES OR NO? REFLECT ON WHERE YOU ARE
ON THESE “ENERGY MEASURES”
Energy flow
(after an event, how do you feel)
At one extreme, there is negative energy raised and poor choices
Come home anxious, worried, tempted to gossip.
It is an event/activity that drains your good energy
Come home exhausted, snappy to loved ones
At one extreme, there is a rise in your positive and choices
Come home hopeful, satisfied,
grateful you get to do it again soon.
Good tired
Sleep well, return ready to
be good to loved ones.

5. Energy flow and our Call!
Remember: Some things that seem to take time or energy actually ADD them to your day.
For example….exercising adds 20% speed to your decision making that day and adds 20 % to
your sleep depth!
Remember: While God calls us to serve one another, we are also directed to ensure we find Sabbath time each week (leisure and rest time).