You Can’t Please Everyone — Learn to Say “No”!
- Dr. Ujjwal Patni
- May 13
- 3 min read
Today, I want to share an extraordinary story with you. This story has the power to change the way you live and think.
A young boy was crying loudly on the seashore. People nearby asked him why he was crying. The boy replied, “The sea has taken my slipper. It’s a thief! This is wrong.” He kept crying and even wrote in the sand: “The sea is a thief.”
Not far away, a fisherman was sitting and weeping. The strong waves had capsized his only boat. All the fish he had caught had sunk along with the boat. Somehow, he saved his life and reached the shore. Now, he had no idea how he would survive moving forward. He kept cursing the sea.
A little farther, a mother was shedding tears. When someone asked her why, she said, “The sea swallowed my daughter today.” Later, it was discovered that a few small children had wandered deep into the sea, and one of them became its victim.
The wind, who was the sea’s friend, was listening to all this. She asked the sea, “Why do you bring waves to the shore again and again? Don’t you feel bad hearing such negative things about yourself?”
The sea calmly replied, “Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”
The next day, the wind came again and saw a child jumping and dancing with joy. He was saying to his mother, “A ball just came to me from the waves. Sea Uncle gave me such a lovely gift!” He was happily thanking the sea.
A little farther, a fisherman was kneeling, hands folded, thanking the sea: “Oh, provider! I needed money desperately, and today you gave me so many fish that all my family’s needs will be met.”
The wind then noticed a peanut seller, bursting with happiness as if her face was lit with thousands of bulbs. When asked, she said, “The sea threw a shell on the shore today, and when I opened it, there was a real pearl inside! I know I can sell it for a good price and meet all my needs.”
Now, the wind didn’t know what to say.
The sea smiled and said,
“It is my job to come to the shore every day. Those who benefit are happy, and those who don’t are sad.
Should I stop my work because of what people say?
And if I do listen, whose words should I follow?
The ones who were unhappy yesterday, or the ones who are overjoyed today?”
Friends, our life is just like this. We all move ahead chasing a dream. Some people try to stop us, others encourage us. Those who couldn’t achieve much in their lives often think no one else should either.
Whenever you strive for a big achievement, someone will question you. That’s just how the world works — someone will mock you, someone will remind you of your past failures, and someone else will highlight all the obstacles.
Even those who know nothing about your capability will give unsolicited opinions.
Among all these, a few, although fewer in number, will be the ones who truly motivate you.
Whose voice you listen to will shape your life.
You cannot stop people from talking, but you can choose whose voice to listen to.
Let this truth sink in — It is impossible to please everyone. If you try to do so, you’ll end up hurting yourself from within.
Sometimes, you must stand firm and simply say “No” to others.
Unless you're truly happy from within, you cannot give genuine happiness to others.
This week, do 4 things that will make you feel powerful:
Avoid negative people who drain your energy and courage. Just stay away from them this week.
If you don’t want to do something, don’t carry the burden on your heart. Say “No” politely but firmly. If your heart wants to say “No,” then don’t say “Yes.”
Meet 5 people this week who fill you with enthusiasm for the entire day.
Create a “10 Task List” every day — 10 things that you will do that day. Don’t let others’ opinions interfere with your plan.
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