Values exist, whether you recognize them or not. 

If you find yourself struggling at work, difficulty creating boundaries or tired of compromising – you probably haven’t made a clear list of what your Core Values are. Life can be much easier when you acknowledge and embrace your values – especially when you make plans and decisions that honor them.

Here are some situations in which understanding your values can really help:

• Searching for a new job or new career
• Deciding what type of company you want to work for
• Starting a new relationship or friendship
• Creating clear boundaries and expectations at work or at home
• Evaluating a new opportunity or request
  
  

Remember: the clearer you are, the easier it will be to make decisions and say “no” to opportunities that will not serve you in the long run. This might seem scary at first, but with practice, it becomes easier every time. Very soon, instead of saying yes to everything because you hate disappointing people, you will find yourself saying a polite “no”.

What does a polite “no” look like in real life?

• (When another business wants you to collaborate with them) “Thank you for thinking of me for your upcoming event and wanting me to collaborate with you. However, at this time your event doesn’t align with my quarterly goals so I’ll have to say no. If in the future my calendar opens up, you’ll be the first to know.” 
• (To a friend) “I wish I could make it to your party tomorrow but I have to prioritize time with my family and Friday’s are pizza night. Thank you for the invite!”
• (To a manager asking you to do more than what your job is) “I understand you’d like me to take over the social media account, however, this far exceeds my responsibilities as a customer service rep. If you’d like to discuss my role in further detail or talk about compensation for this new role, let’s schedule a meeting.” 

See, saying no isn’t hard. You just have to be confident enough to stand your ground and stay true to your values no matter what.