If you’re constantly saying yes and quietly absorbing the fallout: exhaustion, missed time, regret, it’s worth pausing to ask: why am I doing this? Who am I trying to protect? What am I avoiding by staying agreeable?
Sometimes the cost of a yes isn’t obvious until later. But if you keep noticing a pattern where you feel drained, taken for granted or overwhelmed, it’s time to track it back. Did you agree too quickly? Were you afraid to speak up? Naming the real reason helps you interrupt the cycle next time. And no one is telling you to say no to everything, you just need to start saying yes with intention going forward and no with peace.