It’s no surprise that many of us have a hard time saying no. That tiny two-letter word can come with loads of guilt and shame, especially if for those of us who are prone to compassion and empathy (raised hand over here!). Simply put, we want to preserve our relationships—whether personal or work related; whether it’s a girl’s night out or a potential new client. Saying yes can be a wonderful thing when the time is right, but it can also backfire on that whole relationship preservation thing. If we can’t keep up, we end up letting others around us down. Saying no is something that really needs to be de-stigmatized; we can’t do it all and do it all well. Because when it comes down to it, every no gives us more opportunity for a yes that’s really worth it down the line.