It’s hard to overcome the tendency to explain, but it can be done with focus and intention. Awareness is the key. To help you become more aware, here are 20 things you don’t owe anyone an explanation for.
1. You don’t owe anyone a justification for your values and your priorities.
2. You don’t owe anyone a yes when you want to say no.
3. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for your relationships, whether lovers or friends.
4. You don’t owe anyone assistance with their happiness journey at the cost of your own.
5. You don’t owe anyone a debate around your political views especially when the other person’s mind is made up.
6. You don’t owe anyone an apology when you are not sorry, and you would make the same decision again.
7. You don’t owe anyone a rationalization about why investing in yourself is important
8. You don’t owe anyone the meaning of what you believe in.
9. You don’t owe anyone a change in your appearance just to please them.
10. You don’t owe anyone friendship, especially when they do not share your values.
11. You don’t owe anyone a negative mindset so that you can commiserate with them.
12. You don’t owe anyone access to information about your life that makes you uncomfortable
13. You don’t owe anyone gossip material about other people just to fit in.
14. You don’t owe anyone your time for their projects or for things that matter to them unless they matter to you too.
15. You don’t owe anyone the commitment to try something “new” just because you were asked.
16. You don’t owe anyone a safe place for constant complaining and dwelling in their poor choices.
17. You don’t owe anyone an answer other than the truth to prevent them from being uncomfortable.
18. You don’t owe anyone your services as a crisis counselor unless you are actually a crisis counselor.
19. You don’t owe anyone false compliments just to make them feel better.
20. You don’t owe anyone anything that doesn’t make you feel good and goes against your gut instinct.
Just remember this:
“What other people think of me is none of my business.” – Wayne Dyer