About this quote

We often find ourselves saying yes to things we secretly want to avoid. It is a common human trap to ignore that quiet, warning voice inside your head just to keep the peace or satisfy someone else. When you ignore your own instincts, you end up in awkward social gatherings or dead-end projects that you knew were mistakes from the start. Taking ownership of your choices requires you to say no before you get dragged into situations you dislike. How many times are you going to ignore your gut before you start listening to it?

When to use it

• You text this to a coworker after agreeing to join a messy weekend committee that you knew was going to be a disaster from day one.
• You tell your partner this when you find yourself shivering in a tent during a miserable family camping trip you were pressured into joining.
• You think of this when you get your monthly credit card statement and see the charge for a high-end gym you knew you would never visit.
• You say this to a classmate after volunteering to lead a difficult group project that everyone else is already ignoring.