How to stop saying yes when you mean no, with Lael Stone

Sep 10, 2025

Lael Stone, an educator and author of 'Own Your Story', dives deep into personal boundaries and the importance of saying no when it really matters. She discusses how family imprints can shape our decisions and redefine our notions of success. Listeners learn about the concept of a 'full body yes' and practical strategies to realign with their true desires. Lael also emphasizes the value of listening to understand, rather than to fix, fostering genuine connections in both personal and professional realms.

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ADVICE

Use The 'Full Body Yes' Check

Pause before agreeing and check whether all parts of you are aligned with the choice.
If it’s a maybe, treat it as a no until it becomes a full body yes.

INSIGHT

Flip 'How Bad' To 'How Good'

We default to troubleshooting because our brain is wired for protection and to spot problems.
Flipping to ask "how good could it get?" opens possibilities and broadens imagination.

INSIGHT

Family Imprints Shape Success

Family imprints shape our definition of success and can drive overwork or self-sabotage.
Feeling seen must come from within; external success often fails to fill that internal need.

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Have you ever said yes when your whole body was screaming NO!!? Those small choices add up, leaving us drained, resentful, and out of alignment with our own lives.

In part 2 of my conversation with Lael Stone - educator and author of book Own Your Story, we unpack the hidden patterns that shape our decisions, the family imprints that hold us back, and the practical shifts that help us step into our power.

If you’ve ever felt torn between what you should do and what you actually want to do, this conversation will show you how to pause, get curious, and realign.

You’ll learn:

The idea of a “full body yes” and how to use it in daily decisions
Why family imprints often drive our definition of success (and how they can sabotage us)
How to flip the question from “how bad could it be?” to “how good could it get?”
The importance of learning to receive, not just give – and how to build rituals that honour this
Why most of us listen to fix rather than listen to hear, and how to change that habit
Simple ways leaders can balance listening with guiding their team
The first step to emotional intelligence: asking “what’s going on for me right now?”

Key Quotes

“If it’s a maybe, it’s a no until it’s a full yes.”

“Our fundamental need as humans is to be heard, not to be fixed.”

Connect with Lael Stone on Instagram, LinkedIn and her website, and check out her latest book Own Your Story.

Listen to Part 1 with Lael Stone here.

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/

Connect with me on the socials:
Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber)
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If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

Credits:
Host: Amantha Imber
Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.