Past eventThis event has already taken place. You'll find upcoming events further down.
Express & Receive Limits & Rejections While Staying Connected
Organized by
Donal Gannon
Do you ever struggle to say ‘No’ to what you don’t want?
… to deny requests or set limits without feeling awkward, guilty or afraid of disappointing others?
… to advocate for your own needs without losing the connection?
Do you find yourself saying ‘Yes’ when you really mean ‘No’?
Do you find it difficult to hear such a ‘half-hearted Yes’… or even a clear ‘No’?
… resulting in tension, confusion or even taking it personally and feeling ‘rejected’ and resentful?
We all navigate these challenging moments, and it can seem like a choice between protecting ourselves and protecting our relationships.
But what if we didn’t have to choose?
… if “No” wasn’t the end of a conversation, but the beginning of a deeper, more authentic connection?
… if ‘No’ didn’t have to create tension or conflict, but instead more understanding and respect?
… If we were able to give AND receive limits, denials & rejections as gifts?
This training can show you how; it offers effective alternatives to these challenges; to master the fine art of compassionate rejection, courageous limit setting, careful hearing of the ‘Yes’ behind a ‘No’ and all you need to consciously navigate differences in desires and limits.
We Explore:
- The challenges of ‘No’: Recognize and transform your habitual reactions, personal and cultural blocks when navigating ‘No’, e.g. guilt, shame, resentment, over-accommodation, or fear of rejection.
- Conditioned beliefs: Insights and practices to transform our limiting stories around ‘No’ .
- Compassionate rejection: Increase your ability to say ‘No’ with courage, clarity AND care.
- Receiving ‘No’ as a gift: How to hear limits and denials from others without taking it personally.
- The ‘Yes behind the No’: Uncover the needs and intentions hidden within refusals and limits.
- Avoidance: The many ways we avoid saying ‘No’ from the ‘Half-hearted Yes’ to silent resentment and passive-aggressive behaviour.
- The 3 elements of an open-hearted ‘No’: Find clarity about your own needs, empathy for the other’s, and creative exploration for mutual solutions.
- Making scary requests: We’ll also continue the practice of courageously asking for what we want, even in the face of rejection.
You Can Gain:
- Confidence: Trust yourself and others enough to say and be able to hear ‘No’.
- Healthy boundaries: Say ‘No’ with care and firmness, honouring both your limits and the relationship.
- Connection: Build deeper, more meaningful interactions with others by understanding the interplay of needs, requests and limits.
- Clarity: A deeper understanding of how to balance your needs with those of others.
- Experiential understanding: An embodied sense of how to stay connected to yourself and others, even in moments of disagreement.
- Awareness: From knowing where exactly your limit is to the needs that guide your ‘No’ and the impact on others.
- Empowerment: Find the inner freedom that comes from honouring both your own needs and the needs of others.
- Practical skills: All you need to handle requests, refusals, and negotiations in daily life.
No previous experience required.
This is 1 of 2 related training days over the weekend.
These are part of a tour of independent, yet mutually supportive, training days spread over 2 months.
To discover all the training days, see www.donalgannon.com/myevents
Sat, 21 Nov · 09:00
The Municipality of Aljezur presents the BATATA-DOCE Grand Prix🥇🥈🥉 A race/walk that everyone can join! Have you signed up yet? Free registration: http://app.fpacompeticoes.pt/inscriptions/6579 Together, let’s get Aljezur running!!!
Sun, 22 Nov · 17:00
We are delighted to be back in Aljezur and sing together! ✨ Let’s gather in this heart opening evening and be held by the singing of bhajans and mantras. Our shared space helps us to harmonize, dissolve what is not needed and return to a space of expansion and heartfelt connection ❤️🔥 We appreciate if you can confirm your intention to come here: https://forms.gle/ZbKoF1WJTBmcMHC59 We look forward to meeting you and singing our hearts out 🙌🏽 Shankari & Sebastian
Fri, 27 Nov · 16:00
From November 27 to 29, the Aljezur Multipurpose Center will become the must-visit destination for lovers of fine cuisine. Come discover the versatility of the famous “Lira” sweet potato, considered by many to be the best in the world, and let yourself be surprised by traditional dishes, convent sweets, and artisanal liqueurs. In addition to these unique flavors, the festival features cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs, local crafts, and plenty of musical entertainment to warm up these fall days. Bring your family and friends and come experience the traditions and hospitality of our Costa Vicentina.
Fri, 20 Nov · 21:00
Black bass 2026 This year’s lineup is being announced later than usual for the reasons we describe below. But first, the good news: this year, for the first time, Black Bass is moving its main days to Odeceixe. The 11th edition takes place on November 20 and 21 at Bar do Toy and Atmosfera, and on Friday, simultaneously—as has been the case since 2023—at CAEP in Portalegre. Admission in Odeceixe is free. In Portalegre, admission costs €5. Black Bass 2026: Odeceixe at Espaço Earlier this week, we were notified of the mandatory closure of cultural activities at Sociedade Harmonia Eborense, the venue that was set to host the three days of Black Bass in Évora. This year, we had decided to move the entire festival to “she” instead of holding it as a single night, in order to highlight an iconic venue in the city. We left a note of solidarity at “she.” We managed to adjust our plans so that the festival could take place at a decentralized venue, with the necessary conditions for its operation, while maintaining free admission in Odeceixe. In 2026, Black Bass joins forces with the capital of Medronhopunk! We want to thank the Odeceixe community, which has rallied to help us make this festival a reality and has done so much in recent days—and especially over the years—showing that even a small village has the potential to be a cultural hub. We hope you’re ready for the odyssey in Odeceixe. Friday, 20 - Odeceixe (free admission) Bar do Toy: Gogotte, Prado, Maquina Atmosfera: DJ set by Lava Gull, DJ set by Ross Friday, 20 - Portalegre (€5) caep: Cat Soup, pcr, Marquise Pátio da Casa: DJ Garden Gnome Saturday, 21 - Odeceixe (free admission) Bar do Toy: Chat grp, baf (es), Cave Story, pcr (KOR) Atmosfera: DJ set by Dawg Kru, DJ set by M'en Fou WE’RE COUNTING ON YOU FOR THIS ODYSSEY! Accommodation and transportation tips for Black Bass (continued in the comments)