“Source of Love ” Successfully Hosts “How to Say ‘No’” Salon in Rhodes

“Source of Love ” is an international community founded in Sydney, Australia, built upon the foundation of cultural integration and using love as the bond that connects people. Through a diverse range of community activities, we aim to foster mutual understanding, communication, and integration among individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Whether through cultural sharing, co-creating meaningful experiences, artistic exploration, public welfare initiatives, or personal growth and support, our mission is to cultivate an inclusive, warm, meaningful, and self-growth-oriented space within an atmosphere of love.

On March 23, 2025, the“ Source of Love” community hosted its second event of the year at The Connect Event Space, Rhodes, with the theme “How to Say No”. This experiential session aimed to help individuals confront the fear of rejection, cultivate healthy boundaries, and reclaim their sense of self-worth in both personal and professional settings.

Attendees included both long-time community members and new friends who joined through social media. Against the serene backdrop of Brays Bay, participants spent a powerful, loving, and insightful afternoon, enriched by the fusion of diverse cultures.

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Resonance Through Authentic Sharing

In a setting filled with compassion and openness, participants from different backgrounds shared their real-life experiences, unveiling common struggles such as people-pleasing, cultural expectations, guilt, and the inner conflict of prioritizing others at the cost of oneself. These heartfelt stories struck a deep chord, leading to a collective realization:

Saying “no” is not selfish—it is an act of self-respect.

Overcoming the Fear of Saying No

Many attendees bravely opened up about their challenges in saying no within personal relationships, cultural contexts, and family roles. Some key examples included:

• Awakening from people-pleasing patterns and learning to honor their own feelings.

• Struggling to say “no” to elders due to deeply ingrained cultural norms.

• Realizing they often say “yes” to others while constantly saying “no” to themselves.

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Deep Dive: The Inner Barriers to Saying No

Through storytelling and group discussions, participants uncovered the root causes behind their difficulty in setting boundaries, including:

• Fear of losing love and acceptance.

• Cultural and familial conditioning.

• Worrying about disappointing others.

• A habitual tendency to neglect personal needs to gain external validation.

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Theoretical Insights: Separating Your Own Tasks from Others

The session introduced Alfred Adler’s “Task Separation Theory”, a powerful tool for distinguishing personal responsibilities from others’. This framework helped participants:

• Recognize what belongs to them and what belongs to others.

• Stop taking responsibility for others’ emotions and decisions.

• Set clear boundaries and break free from emotional manipulation.

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Meditation: Returning to the Self

A five-minute guided meditation allowed participants to reconnect with their inner selves, reflect on whether they had been carrying responsibilities that weren’t theirs, and release the pressure of external expectations. This exercise brought a sense of peace and clarity.

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Saying “No” with Love and Strength

Participants explored ways to assert their boundaries with kindness and confidence, including:

• Offering alternatives when rejecting a request.

• Not over-apologizing for saying no.

• Expressing refusal gently yet firmly.

Empowerment & Awakening: The Feminine Perspective

A particularly moving segment involved women breaking free from traditional family roles. Some profound awakenings included:

• No longer taking responsibility for the emotional well-being of fathers or brothers.

• Rejecting the idea that being a daughter or sister means self-sacrifice.

• Embracing the belief that “I deserve to be treated equally.”

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Interactive Reflection Activities

Participants engaged in symbolic card-drawing, case discussions, and intuitive reflection, uncovering hidden emotional truths behind their boundaries and decisions. Many walked away with unexpected revelations, such as:

“Learning to love myself is the gentlest form of saying no.”

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The True Nature of Love & Freedom

Saying “no” does not mean a lack of love. Rather, it is a way of honoring oneself and preserving authenticity. Setting boundaries allows love to flow freely—not as an exchange, but as a genuine gift.

True self-acceptance begins when we stop abandoning ourselves. Only when we dare to say “no” can we truly say “yes” to our authentic path.

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A Celebration of Growth & a New Journey Ahead

The event concluded in an atmosphere filled with laughter, shared empowerment, and heartfelt connection. As a special surprise, attendees were invited to the next exciting session—an uplifting salsa dance experience, designed to explore freedom through movement and joy.

Continuous Growth Beyond the Event

This session was just the beginning of a longer journey. Moving forward, Source of Love will:

• Establish an online “Saying No” support group.

• Encourage members to keep a “Saying No” journal.

• Offer ongoing resources to support the community’s growth and empowerment.

This event showcased the depth, warmth, and professionalism of the Source of Love team. It provided a genuine and diverse space for storytelling, creating a safe environment where courageous conversations could take place. By integrating theory with practical application, the session was both insightful and actionable.

With its gentle yet powerful and healing-oriented facilitation style, Source of Love is committed to building a long-term, deeply transformative community, serving the needs of individuals on their journey toward self-discovery and empowerment.