Hello ,
The first thing I want to say today is - NO!!!
I’ve been reflecting on how powerful the word NO is.
No is a big word.
It’s a word we hear often, but one we sometimes find hard to use ourselves.
Maybe it’s because we’re trying to be polite, or because we don’t want to disappoint others, but I’ve been learning that sometimes the hardest lesson of all is learning to say no.
This past week, I realized I had said yes too many times. And what that meant was that my peace was affected. I wasn’t able to give the best version of myself.
The truth is, I wear many hats. This means that at the same time as I’m building work, I’m also working on being present for my family, and my children that are still young. What that means for me is that socially, there are some things I simply cannot go for in this season.
Therefore, I had to face this hard truth and realisation that saying yes too often will only drain my peace and leave me unable to give the best version of myself.
Many of us struggle with the word no. Not because we don’t know how to say it, but because we want to be polite, present, or helpful. But every yes we give without thought takes something away — our time, our energy, sometimes even our joy.
I’ve realized that in this season of my life, with young children and many hats to wear, I cannot do everything. And that’s okay. Saying no doesn’t make you selfish, it makes you wise. It helps you guard your commitments, honor your priorities, and show up more reliably where it truly matters.
A lot of us are quick to say yes, but then down the road we regret it. We get grumpy, frustrated, and sometimes even unreliable — when all we needed to do from the beginning was pause and ask: Can I really commit to this?
No protects your peace. It guards your season. It helps you show up in the right places with your best self. And the truth is, people will understand. People will give you more grace than you realize. Maybe what we need is to give ourselves more grace, and simply say, “I’m sorry, I cannot.”
No is not selfish. No is wisdom. The book I love so much says in Psalms 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.”
Saying no, when needed, is wisdom.
This week, I encourage you to:
- Pause before saying yes.
- Ask God for the wisdom to know when to say no.
- Protect your peace so your yes can truly matter.
As we head into this new week, remember that you cannot do it all. And you don’t have to. Saying no is part of living wisely and joyfully.
In this new week, may you find the courage to protect your peace, the wisdom to say no when needed, and the joy of showing up fully where it matters most.
Wishing you a peaceful and purposeful week ahead,
Take care,
Olamidotun.
P.S.: Feel free to forward this to someone who needs a little reminder and encouragement.
✨ Watch the full video on The Power of No here for the deeper story — I believe it will encourage you.
Also feel free to share my new book…
You can get some yourself and share with family and friends…
Out On Amazon (Worldwide) - Click To Buy On Amazon
Preorder on Selar for Nigeria -
Selar NGN - https://selar.com/4182e7?currency=NGN
Affirmation for the week
“My peace matters, and
I will guard it with wisdom.
I honor my season and
guard my peace.
I am not afraid to say
no when needed.
Saying no allows me to show up
fully where I say yes.
I give myself grace to
honor the season I am in.
I choose boundaries that protect my joy.
My no is not rejection — it is direction.
With God’s help, I apply my
heart to wisdom each day.”
Word Of The Week
📖 Psalms 90:12
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Recommendation
The Praying Parents Network are starting a challenge as our children go back to school. Watch and learn how you can join this challenge in September and October.
Here is another gift to parents - A Confession & Prayer For Help For Our Children.
Click Here To Watch The Confession!
For even more positive content, you can find and watch some on my YouTube page.
You can also follow me on other social media platforms : @olamidotunvo / linktr.ee/olamidotunvo
ANNOUNCEMENTS -
1) Here’s my newest book – The Light Bearer: 31 Days of Bible Confessions
Out On Amazon (Worldwide) - Click To Buy On Amazon
Preorder on Selar for Nigeria -
Selar NGN - https://selar.com/4182e7?currency=NGN
2) Here is a FREE version of my fuller confessions ebook for children. You can find and download here - www.iamalightbearer.com or on Amazon - bit.ly/Lightbearer7daysconfession
3 I’m the Covener of a group called - The Praying Parents Network. We pray twice a week for our children and I’ll love to give everyone who reads an opportunity to join this growing network of over 18,000 across our platforms. You can find out more information about us here.
Instagram - https://bit.ly/TPPNinstagram
Facebook - https://bit.ly/TPPNfacebookpage
YouTube link - https://bit.ly/TPPNyoutube
Call To Action - Keep Going ❤️
PS: Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel - Olamidotun VO - on YouTube and pop by to listen to my podcast for some inspiration and a dose of happiness. Old and new episodes anytime.
PPS: Don’t forget to send to a friend who might need this.
PPPS : If you enjoyed reading this, send to someone to sign up for this. Here is a link to share with your friends and family to sign up for my happy newsletters - https://bit.ly/happyovo
0 comments