It’s one of the first words we learn as infants. In fact, as parents, we actively encourage our infants and children to be able to say ‘No’. “Do you want this to eat? – No”. “Do you want to play with this? – No”. “Do you want to do this? – No”.
So, why is it so hard as adults to say no?
Have you ever listened to how you speak to your body?
How we feel about our body can affect our mood, self-esteem, eating, engagement in exercise, socialising, romantic relationships and anxiety. In extreme cases, a person with a very negative body image can develop an eating disorder, a severe mental health condition that affects a person’s mental and physical wellbeing.
