NO-vember: Saying No to What Drains Our Energy 🍂

mental healthself carepersonal growth
Written By Margot Crane

There's a pattern I've observed—not only in my office, but among friends, family, and in my own life: saying yes when we mean no. Committing to things before checking in with what we actually need. Organizing solutions to problems that aren't ours.

Sometimes the universe steps in—a class gets cancelled, a scheduling conflict emerges. But sometimes it doesn't. And we do the thing anyway. We stay up late baking cookies when we could have bought them. We host the birthday party we didn't want to throw. We drive to another hockey practice even though we're running on empty.

And afterward, we're exhausted, wondering: Why did I do that? 😓

This November, I'm inviting you to practice something different: tuning into the quiet whispers of your inner guidance. Honoring what your body and nervous system are asking for—before exhaustion, depletion, or illness take over. 

NO-vember isn't just about saying no to other people. 

It's about saying no to:

  • The part of you that self-abandons to keep the peace

  • Societal conditioning that says rest is earned, not essential

  • Relentless expectations (internal and external)

  • The pressure to say yes just to prove you can do it all

Because here's the truth: when we say no to what drains us, we're saying yes to what sustains us. ✨

Returning to the Rhythms of Nature 🍃 

For thousands of years, humans lived in rhythm with the seasons. We planted in spring, grew through summer, harvested in fall, and withdrew in winter to restore and reflect. Our bodies still carry this ancient wisdom—but modern life, with its artificial lights, constant connectivity, and relentless pace, has pulled us out of sync.

November—with its cold air, earlier darkness, and pull toward warmth—reminds us of something we seem to have forgotten.

As artist Andy Goldsworthy writes: "We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us."  There is no separation. The same intelligence that moves through the trees, the earth, the seasons—moves through us.

And nature doesn't produce year-round. It cycles between planting, growth, harvest, and rest. In Ayurvedic wisdom, winter asks us to ground, nourish, and conserve energy. In earth-based traditions, this is the time to go inward—not as withdrawal from life, but as preparation for renewal.

What if, instead of fighting the pull toward rest, you honored it as your body's natural intelligence? 🌿

Reflections

This month, I invite you to explore:

  • Where am I saying yes when my body is literally begging me to say "HELL NO"?

  • What would it look like to say no just 5% more this month?

  • What might embracing seasonal renewal look like for me this season?

  • How is my inner wisdom asking me to ground, nourish, and conserve my energy?

Resources

If this theme resonates with you, here are some resources for deeper exploration:

NO-vember is already giving you permission. This month, practice choosing rest as devotion. Say no to what drains you, say yes to what restores you. I invite you to tune into the quiet whispers.

With warmth,

Margot 

Inspired by an Instagram post from @healingenergytools

If you're feeling called to explore what you want to let go of—and what you want to invite in—with professional support, I have openings this fall for both in-person therapy in Edmonton and virtual sessions across Alberta.

Whether you're struggling with people-pleasing, burnout, boundaries, or simply feeling disconnected from yourself, I'm here to help you find your way back.

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Margot Crane
Next

Autumn Reflections: A Season for Letting Go