How to Say No Without Feeling Bad

Have you ever wondered why saying “no” can feel so uncomfortable, or why enforcing boundaries sometimes makes you feel like the bad guy? In this episode, we’re digging into “How to Say No Without Feeling Bad.” I sit down with emotional resilience coach, retreat leader, and author Jen Febel to uncover why people pleasing is so common, why “being nice” isn’t always so nice, and, most importantly, how you can set boundaries with confidence and compassion.

Jen shares her journey from chronic people pleaser to boundary expert, revealing the hard-won lessons and practical tools she developed along the way. If you struggle with guilt, anxiety, or second-guessing every time you put yourself first, you’ll love Jen’s “Boundaries Blueprint”—a simple, three-step approach to standing up for yourself without starting a fight (or using the word “no” at all).

In “How to Say No Without Feeling Bad,” we dig into what it means to move beyond niceness, how to rediscover your true self, and how to balance healthy connection with self-protection. 

5 Key Lessons

1. Saying NO with compassion is a skill you can learn, and it leads to deeper connections.
2. Healthy boundaries are flexible, not rigid, and always start with knowing your true self.
3. You don’t need to justify your needs to others; your words can become your bridge.
4. Triggers and discomfort are clues to where your boundaries are missing (and how to start healing them).
5. You don’t have to choose between being loved and being yourself; sometimes, honoring your needs is the most loving act of all. 

Call to Action

Ready to put yourself first, without guilt? Dive deeper with Jen’s book, "How to Set Boundaries Without Feeling Like a Dick," and explore coaching, retreats, and free resources listed below under "Resources."

And remember to download Jen’s course “Rewrite Your Story: From Broken to Unbreakable,” a $39 value, for free when you use the code NICENOMORE at checkout. 

📕 Resources: 

https://createthebestme.com/ep123

https://www.btgwellness.com/

Course: “Rewrite Your Story: From Broken to Unbreakable,” a $39 value for free when you use the code NICENOMORE at checkout.  https://www.btgwellness.com/rewrite 

Purchase “How to Set Boundaries Without Feeling Like a D*ck” https://a.co/d/9xDXt6r 

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