Shannon's Corner

  For many of us, saying  no  doesn’t feel simple. It feels risky. Vulnerable. Uncomfortable. Maybe even unsafe. We worry: Will they be disappointed? Will I lose connection? Will I look selfish or unhelpful? Will this cost me an opportunity?   And underneath those fears is something deeply human: we all want to belong — without abandoning ourselves to do it. Learning how to say no is not about becoming rigid or distant. It’s about honoring your voice, power, and relationships — all at the same time. It’s about choosing  truth over approval  — while staying kind.   Here’s how to begin.   Step 1: Notice the Pause Before the Yes Most of us say yes automatically. The request comes in and our mouth moves faster than our internal check-in. Practice creating a  pause  — even a sentence like: “Let me think about that and get back to you.” “I need to look at my schedule first.” “I want to be thoughtful and/or pray before I commit.” ...

  For much of my life, saying no felt impossible. I wanted to be helpful. I wanted to be dependable. I wanted people to know they could count on me when they were in need. Somewhere along the way, being available became tied to being worthy. So, I said yes—even when my body was tired, my schedule was full, and my inner reserves were running dry.   It wasn’t until burnout forced me to stop that I began to understand how much not saying no was costing me. Burnout interrupted my life long enough for me to see a pattern I had never paused to question: I was saying yes automatically, often before checking in with myself. I was responding to others’ needs while staying disconnected from my own.   During my recovery from burnout, I began learning how to say no. Slowly. Imperfectly. Often with a shaky voice and a racing heart. At first, no felt harsh. Final. Like a door slamming shut.   Over time, I discovered something surprising: No can be spacious. No can be honest. No ca...

  SHANNON’S CORNER Connect. Nurture. Grow. Merry Christmas!  Advent invites us to slow down and sit with the holy mystery of what is still unfolding.  Much of the Christmas story was not understood in the moment.  It only became clear after it had happened—through the gift of hindsight.  Hindsight is “understanding a situation or event only after it has happened or developed.”  During Advent, we are reminded that God often works in ways we cannot yet see or fully understand.  How often do we find ourselves in similar places, asking God our  why ,  what , and  how  questions? Why is this happening? What is unfolding? How did we arrive here?   Advent teaches us to wait with these questions, trusting God even when the answers are not yet revealed—when we are living in the dark, watching for light.   Debriefing is one way we intentionally look back in order to notice God’s quiet faithfulness. ...