Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In "Say No Without Feeling Bad," Jenna Kutcher shares a valuable insight about how to set boundaries without feeling guilty. She highlights the overwhelming feeling of saying "yes" to too many things and how it can negatively affect your time, energy, and values. The key takeaway is learning to protect your "best yeses," meaning the things that truly align with your priorities, so that saying "no" becomes the default when something doesn’t serve your goals.
Jenna also shares a practical tip in the form of a template for saying no graciously, which helps her communicate her boundaries clearly and respectfully. The template acknowledges the person’s request with gratitude but explains that saying yes to one thing might mean saying no to other important values, like family or personal time. She also emphasizes that her "no" isn’t about the worthiness of the other person or their ideas but about aligning her decisions with her values at this moment in her life.
The result is a powerful, respectful way to set boundaries that leaves both parties feeling respected. As Jenna’s conversation with the other mother demonstrates, this approach can actually increase respect for your decisions rather than making others feel rejected.
In "Say No Without Feeling Bad," Jenna Kutcher shares a valuable insight about how to set boundaries without feeling guilty. She highlights the overwhelming feeling of saying "yes" to too many things and how it can negatively affect your time, energy, and values. The key takeaway is learning to protect your "best yeses," meaning the things that truly align with your priorities, so that saying "no" becomes the default when something doesn’t serve your goals.
Jenna also shares a practical tip in the form of a template for saying no graciously, which helps her communicate her boundaries clearly and respectfully. The template acknowledges the person’s request with gratitude but explains that saying yes to one thing might mean saying no to other important values, like family or personal time. She also emphasizes that her "no" isn’t about the worthiness of the other person or their ideas but about aligning her decisions with her values at this moment in her life.
The result is a powerful, respectful way to set boundaries that leaves both parties feeling respected. As Jenna’s conversation with the other mother demonstrates, this approach can actually increase respect for your decisions rather than making others feel rejected.
