If you’ve spent any time on self-care Instagram or TikTok lately, you’ve likely seen some version of the quote: "No is a complete sentence." It sounds empowering, right? The phrase is simply but lacks context. It’s framed as the ultimate tool for reclaiming your time, your energy, and your peace. On paper, it’s the perfect solution to burnout.

But for many of the women and Black and Brown folks we see here at AWA Counseling Services, that advice often feels… empty. Or worse, it feels dangerous. Especially for the eldest daughter in tight-knit families.