One afternoon in Los Angeles I took my mom out to lunch. We had decided to try a cute little café in Santa Monica that is well known for healthy food. Both of us were trying to get more exercise and eat more fruits and vegetables, so splitting a salad there fit in perfectly with our plan. The waiter came over to the table. We asked for a salad, two plates, and two waters. And as he was starting to walk away to ring up the order, my mom threw in a side of fries. I squealed in protest! “You know I am not good at saying ‘no’ when they are sitting right in front of me, smelling delicious and irresistible! It’s torture.” “I know, but we’ll just have a few.” “Or how about none at all?  Let’s say ‘no’ to the order of fries now so we (or at least I) don’t have to say ‘no’ over and over in my mind when it comes to the table.”

My mother relented. We told the waiter to cancel it, and my mom later said she was happy we did that because the salad alone was amazing and satisfying.  We did not need the fries, and our <a “title=”Psychology Today looks at Neuroscience” href=”http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/neuroscience”>brain forgot about them by the time we took our first bite.

And that is how I discovered the strength of the Power No.