The paradox of “no”

I’ve always been told that “it is easiest to say ‘no’ at the beginning,” which is very much true. It is easier say “no” to cigarettes today than to quit smoking 20 years later. It is easier to be honest than to unwind from or entirely drop a habit of lying.

This is in large part true because once you smoke, you begin to see yourself as a smoker, never mind the addictive nature of nicotine. When you lie, you begin to believe that you are a liar. The same is true for most vices.

The paradox, however, is that at the beginning, you see nothing but calm waters. That habit or tendency or quirk that you have feels insignificant. The beginning may be the easiest time to say “no,” but it is also the easiest time to convince yourself that you don’t have to. It isn’t until the waves come crashing in that you realize how much harder it is to say “no” further down the road.