Decision-making can become a process of twists and turns. When presented with a request or question, sometimes even a simple “yes” or “no” answer creates anxiety. Saying “no” to a friend, family member, or workplace colleague may feel especially stressful when you know that the other person expects you to say “yes.” If you begin second-guessing your decision, you often find yourself in a maze of confusing choices with no way out. Saying “no” can be so challenging that some medical students are trained at saying “no” effectively.

A group of medical students at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine were tutored on saying “no” to patients. These physicians-in-training engaged in role-play to learn how to say “no” to a patient the right way. This training is helpful when patients try to coerce the physician into ordering higher doses of medication. The physicians are trained to use different scenarios to try to convince the patient that a higher dose would be inappropriate, addictive, or unwise (The Right Thing to Say, Hoang, 2023).

When we say “yes” instead of “no,” oftentimes we do so out of expediency. This especially occurs when you are over-scheduled, are being pressured, have not had enough sleep, are worried about making a mistake, or fail to trust your instincts. Here's what these scenarios can look like and what you can do in them:

When you are conflicted and ignore your instincts, you thwart your serenity. Essentially it is important to be true to yourself. Be grateful for your decisions and even the mistakes you make. Treat each mistake as a learning experience; these are stepping stones to eventual success. Every moment you lose when you are anxious or stressed is a moment you can never retrieve.

Copyright Rita Watson, MPH 2023

References

Hoang, N.S. The “Right Thing” to Say. Acad Psychiatry (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-023-01853-y

Watson, RE, The Art of Decision-Making: 20 Winning Strategies for Women, Lowell House, New York, NY. 1994