#### [[The impact of rejection on people and their offers is reduced when blame is placed on an external construct]] --- > Steve Kamb, the founder of NerdFitness.com, told me that the best and most polite excuse is just to say you have a rule. “I have a rule that I don’t decide on the phone.” “I have a rule that I don’t accept gifts.” “I have a rule that I don’t speak for free anymore.” “I have a rule that I am home for bath time with the kids every night.” People respect rules, and they accept that it’s not you rejecting the offer, request, demand, or opportunity, but the rule allows you no choice. --- Tags: [[Blame]] - [[Rejection]] - [[Cognitive Dissonance]] Reference: Related: - [[Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria causes people with ADHD to become people pleasers|RSD]] - [[Avoidant Attachment#^d21b4a]] - [[Humans inherently reject domineering alpha males in favor of democracy]]