Practice saying "No"

Be sure you practice!

We may have all heard those words at some point. A piano teacher, our mom, a tennis coach, or math tutor, perhaps.

Why do I have to?

That might have been our response when we were kids. Somehow, our mom or teacher always had a good answer.

Because practicing is how you will improve.

Practicing not only improves a skill, such as typing or playing the guitar; practicing can also improve daily habits. For example, have you practiced saying “no” to chocolate? Here is how you might do it.

Grab a small bowl and fill it with chocolate chips. Keep this bowl in your pantry for a week without allowing yourself a single one. At the end of the week, it will be easier to say “no” to chocolate. It works! It works because you would have just spent a week practicing saying “no.” It would take a very conscious decision to step outside of the practice and eat chocolate.

This sort of practice can work on any weakness we might have. If you know there is a time coming when you will be tempted by bad food, try practicing saying “no” to prepare yourself. Chances are that if you have been passing by those Ruffles potato chips all week, that when you go to the potluck you’ll pass by them without even thinking.