The Conundrum in Saying Yes

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Have you ever been nervous when looking forward to accepting a request? Does it ever occur to you that at times requests may come with hooks attached? If not, you are still one of the good people who genuinely go out to help others. If I had a hat, I would have lowered it and bowed in respect to you.

The genuine way of helping others is through selfless availability. There is immense joy that accompanies selfless acts of service. This is so because, one does not do things out of compulsion or force but our of general care and concern. I have heard that it has to own perks too. Of the many, the most notable would is the accumulation of talents and experience. As one helps the other selflessly, one acquires skill and understands things better.

However, selfless acts of service also have its downsides. Many times people make use of those who genuinely go out to help others. This is because people who selflessly help, at times, find it difficult to say no. Ergo, we have the conundrum of saying 'yes'. Through my own experiences and the experiences of people like me I have come to a conclusion. It is not a doctrine but I see it more as a reflection from experience. While saying yes can be and is good, at times one needs to learn to say no. We cannot please everyone. The 'no' helps keep us in check lest we get overburdened. It prevents one from being used like an instrument by others.

While most of us have learnt the art of saying 'yes', we also need to learn the counter-art: to say 'no'. Try not to overburden
yourself or be used by others. The solution to the conundrum of saying 'no' is simple: a combination of the arts of saying 'yes' and 'no'.

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