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As the holidays approach, many of us find ourselves in a familiar, often overwhelming, situation: saying "yes" to everything. Whether it's attending every holiday party, volunteering for extra work, or taking on additional family responsibilities, this time of year seems to intensify our tendency to overcommit. We want to please everyone, but the cost is often our peace, well-being, and time for self-care.

What if, instead of piling on obligations, we empowered ourselves by embracing the art of saying "no"? Enter the No Manifesto — a tool for reclaiming your time, setting boundaries, and ensuring you stay true to your priorities, even during the busiest season.

What Is a "No" Manifesto?

A No Manifesto is a declaration of your boundaries and values, written with the purpose of protecting your time, energy, and well-being. It’s a personalized statement that reminds you of what truly matters in your life and what you are unwilling to sacrifice. By having a no manifesto in place, you can make empowered decisions about where to invest your energy and when to say no without guilt.

This is especially crucial during the holidays when we’re often pulled in a million directions, feeling obligated to attend every event, buy every gift, and make everyone happy. Without clear boundaries, the festive season can lead to burnout instead of joy.

Why You Need a "No" Manifesto

1. Prevents Overcommitment: Having a clear, written no manifesto reminds you of your priorities and allows you to politely but firmly decline activities or tasks that don’t align with them.

2. Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Establishing boundaries in advance prevents the last-minute scramble to meet unrealistic expectations.

3. Builds Confidence: Saying no is a skill, and the more you practice, the more confident you become in your ability to stand by your decisions.

4. Creates Time for What Matters: The holidays should be about spending time with loved ones, resting, and reflecting on what’s important to you. By saying no to unnecessary commitments, you’re preserving time for meaningful moments.

Action Steps to Creating Your Own "No" Manifesto

1. Identify Your Priorities

Start by reflecting on what truly matters to you, especially during the holiday season. Is it quality time with family? Rest and rejuvenation? Spiritual growth? Define what you want to protect, and let this be your guiding light.

2. Determine What You Want to Say No To

Think about the areas where you often feel overextended. Is it work obligations, social events, or even family gatherings? Be honest with yourself about what drains you, and list the types of commitments that you no longer want to make.

3. Write Your No Manifesto

This is where you put your boundaries into words. Your manifesto can be as short or as detailed as you want, but it should include:

- Your Core Values: A few sentences about what you stand for and what you’re committed to during this season.

- Your Boundaries: Specific examples of what you will say no to, such as “I will say no to attending more than two holiday parties,” or “I will not take on any new projects at work until January.”

- Your Affirmations: Empowering statements to remind yourself that it’s okay to say no. For example, “My time and energy are valuable, and I have the right to choose how to spend them.”

4. Anticipate Challenges

Be realistic about the situations where you may feel pressured to say yes. Prepare responses in advance so you’re not caught off guard when someone asks for a last-minute favor or invite. For instance, you can respond with, “I would love to, but I’m keeping my schedule light this season.”

5. Share Your Boundaries

If necessary, share your no manifesto (or parts of it) with loved ones, coworkers, or anyone who may need to understand your limits. Setting expectations with those around you helps ensure they respect your boundaries.

6. Practice Saying No

Saying no can feel uncomfortable at first, but remember, you’re honoring your needs. Practice using polite but firm language, like “I appreciate the invitation, but I won’t be able to attend,” or “That sounds great, but I’ve committed to keeping my plate clear this month.”

7. Reflect and Revise

After the holiday season, reflect on how your No Manifesto worked. Were there situations where it helped? Are there any adjustments you’d like to make for the future? This process is ongoing, and your boundaries may shift over time.

The holiday season should be a time of joy, reflection, and meaningful connection. Yet, without clear boundaries, it can easily turn into a period of stress and overcommitment. By saying no to what doesn’t serve you, you’re saying yes to yourself and the things that truly matter.

I encourage you to take this opportunity to create your No Manifesto and step into the holiday season, and 2025 with clarity, confidence, and peace.

P.S.- I recently recorded an episode of The SHERO Effect podcast that discusses the power of a No Manifesto. You can listen to the episode here: Creating Your Personal "No Manifesto")

What's New & Exciting in My World?

Last week I was in Beverly Hills for the 2024 Success Summit and got the chance to catch up with old friends, make a bunch of new ones, and hang out with my dear friend, Lisa Nichols.

I was honored for my work on two films (BRISA and The Iron Cowboy: Conquer 100), a TV show (Break Through with Lisa Nichols), and a recent bestselling book (Rise Up with Lisa Nichols) and had an opportunity to speak from the stage to share some of my successes with others.

All week I was surrounded by amazing people who were also being honored for the incredible things they are doing in their work and their communities. It was a magical time and one I will not forget!

Miranda ⭐️ VonFricken and I kicked off our mastermind this week with some truly fabulous women! (there is still time to join!)

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬. We are dedicated to creating an environment that empowers our members to leverage their strengths, share their expertise, and grow both personally and professionally. Our goal is to build a network of unstoppable women leaders, driving change and inspiring excellence in every field.

If you are looking to become a part of an exclusive community, receive high-level support, expand your network and increase your visibility, 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

DM me or email me at jennifer@sherocoaching.com for more info. We are leaving enrollment open until 9/22, so be sure to grab your seat!

If you haven't had a chance to catch an episode, take a moment to check it out! I'd love your feedback. New episodes are dropped every Thursday.

I started my podcast to invite listeners into conversations that are designed to help you live feeling more confident and empowered. I interview experts, and thought leaders, and share my own experiences with you to help you unleash your inner superhero and embrace your true purpose!

Do you have a story you want to share? I have the platform for you to share it on! Send me an email at jennifer@sherocoaching.com and let's discuss!

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I'd like to leave you with an affirmation as you look forward to a new month full of new opportunities, growth, and connections :

"𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐀𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐈 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞."

Wishing you a month of incredible blessings and epic moments!