The Hidden Yeses That Keep You Overwhelmed

Ok, so maybe you’re not saying yes out loud—and yet somehow your calendar is bursting with everyone else’s needs.

That’s the cost of a Silent Yes.

A Silent Yes is the agreement you give with your energy instead of your words. It’s the moment you go along to keep the peace, avoid guilt, or protect someone else’s comfort—at the expense of your own. The cost? Overwhelm, resentment, and that quiet sense of disappearing inside your own life.

These might be harder to spot, so stay with me.

You’re the one who always buys the family gifts—because otherwise it won’t get done.
Silent yes to carrying the mental load.

You let your coworker vent for 45 minutes even though your inbox is exploding.
Silent yes to burnout.

You let your teen’s friend tag along—again—because you don’t want to seem mean.
Silent yes to resentment.

You keep a subscription or donation active out of guilt, not joy.
Silent yes to depletion.

You keep showing up to events you don’t enjoy because “it’s what we’ve always done.”
Silent yes to obligation.

You say you’re fine when you’re anything but.
Silent yes to invisibility.

Most of us do this without even realizing it. The Silent Yes sneaks in when we feel responsible for others’ happiness, or when our nervous systems have learned that keeping the peace feels safer than standing our ground. But each unspoken yes chips away at our energy. It’s like carrying invisible weights that no one else can see.

Remember those permission slips from last week? Let’s add a few more to your stack:

• Permission to pause before agreeing.

• Permission to let something drop.

• Permission to let someone else step up.

• Permission to honor your no—even silently.

Because every time you choose yourself, you’re saying a louder, clearer yes to peace, freedom, and authenticity.

Let your next yes belong to you.