Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power

O Seekers of Strength and Resolve, hear the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, a woman whose courage and wisdom changed the world: "Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes." In this powerful declaration, Roosevelt speaks to the essence of self-determination and empowerment. She reminds us that there are forces and voices in life that seek to limit us, to hold us back, but we must not bow to those who do not possess the true authority to shape our destinies. We must not allow the no of those without power to overshadow the yes that can come from those who have the means to open doors for us.

Consider, O Children, that the path to greatness is often blocked by those who lack the ability or the right to hinder our journey. The world is full of those who will tell you what you cannot do, who will limit your dreams and tell you to settle for less. But the true power lies in recognizing who has the true authority to decide your fate. It is not the voices of the weak or the unqualified that should determine your worth, but the voices of those who hold the keys to the doors you seek to open.

Look to the life of Harriet Tubman, who, in the face of unspeakable oppression, did not allow the no of those who sought to keep her enslaved to determine her future. Though the world said no to her freedom, she knew the true power of her spirit, and she risked everything to say yes to her own liberation. It was not the forces of oppression that held the ultimate authority over her life—she did. Her refusal to accept a no from those without the power to grant her freedom led her to lead hundreds to freedom, forever altering the course of her life and the lives of others.

And so, O Seekers, understand this: you are the master of your own fate. When you encounter no from those who do not hold the true power to shape your life, do not bow to it. Instead, seek the yes from those who possess the true authority to open the doors you desire to walk through. Eleanor Roosevelt teaches us that we must not surrender to the limitations imposed by others, but instead claim our power to create our own path. When others say no, remember that you have the strength to seek out the yes that will move mountains.

Let us, therefore, rise above the voices of doubt and negativity that seek to diminish our worth. We are not defined by the no of those without power, but by the yes we demand from those who have the true means to give us what we seek. May we walk with the confidence that comes from knowing that we hold the power to determine our destiny, and may we never allow another’s no to be more powerful than the yes that resides within us. In the face of any obstacle, let us remember that our strength lies in the ability to demand our own freedom, our own path, and our own power.