You’ll want to eat the entire batch of these Nutella-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies. Ooey, gooey Nutella oozes out of the center of each sweet, moist cookie.
Today, if you don’t mind, I’d like to talk about saying “no”.
Often times we get into phases of our life where things might be getting pretty hectic. Maybe we’re trying to build a business, trying to move up in the corporate latter, or planning for a big event. Whatever it is, we’re swamped. But although this might feel like a crazy, insane, overwhelming, stressful time – it’s usually all positive things.
I’m the type of person that needs to have a lot going on or else I’m incredibly unproductive and I feel like a couch potato. But once I do have a lot going on, I’m like: AHHH I HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON.
What I’ve learned over the last year to year and a half is how to say no. I provide this time frame because I have never been as busy in my life as I am right now. And being so busy requires you to make some difficult decisions. Through my job, and through my blog(s), I have learned how to make the right decision for what I want to achieve, for what I have going on, and essentially, how to assess situations and opportunities.
The obvious situation here is this: at times I am offered what immediately sounds like a wonderful, fun, sometimes paid opportunity via The Blissful Balance. In the beginning, I was a yes woman. I was like Oprah, but with yes’s. YOU GET A YES! AND YOU GET A YES! EVERYBODY GETS A YES!!
But it proved the wrong way to work and the wrong way to grow. I was saying yes to things that wouldn’t take me in the direction I ultimately wanted to go. I wasn’t making the right decisions for my brand, for my audience, and for myself. I can easily look back and say “wow I was an idiot”, but truthfully, I think it’s good for people to go through that phase. It’s how you learn.
By the same token, I experience this at my job from time to time. I almost feel more like I have to say yes to everything at work, because “it’s my job” (and because I hate conflict), versus with my businesses. However, I have learned that saying “no” can be better, even in the workplace. In the past, if somebody presented an idea to me that I wasn’t in love with, I just went with it, even though it was my job to express my concerns or give input. I was scared. I didn’t have confidence. I felt like I would be shot down.
Now? I feel confident in my abilities, and if I don’t feel something is right for my position, or for the company depending on stages, phases, historical data, and simply my own personal experience and knowledge, I feel perfectly fine saying no. And that, my friends, makes me feel empowered. You should try it sometime!
So, because of the lessons I’ve learned, I have a new decision-making process in place. Actually, I recently had to really use this process to make a tough decision. My process is to think about:
- How much time will this take?
- How will I have to rearrange my schedule for this?
- What will I get out of this?
- Will this take me forward, or leave me stagnant, or even take me backward?
- Does this opportunity have anything to do with my purpose and/or goals?
I was given an opportunity to travel recently (paid travel, basically my dream come true). Andddd, I turned it down. Womp womp, right?
But funny enough, I felt amazing after denying that opportunity. I felt mature, self-aware, and like I’d finally, fully understood where I wanted to go. That opportunity was great, but it wasn’t coming at a good time, and it wasn’t going to lead me toward the success I strive for on a daily basis.
But do you know what I always say yes to? *abrupt subject change*
Nutella-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Yeah, because who the heck wouldn’t?!
This is actually a recipe repurpose of an oldie but a goodie – my Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies. I took my old recipe, adapted it, and instead of using the Nutella inside the dough, I stuffed each cookie with it. Trust me, it’s better this way. With each bite you experience Nutella oozing onto your tongue in between each sweet, soft, pillowy chocolate chip cookie. Lord have mercy Jesus take the wheel.
- 4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 cups brown sugar
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 eggs, or 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup almond milk
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- Pinch of salt
- 3 tbsp Nutella
- Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a cookie sheet.
- Combine flour, baking soda, and sugar in a large bowl. Mix together.
- Add in coconut oil, vanilla extract, eggs, and almond milk. Mix by-hand or with an electric mixer until well-combined and dough forms. It will be a wetter dough.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Using an cookie scoop (ice cream scoop) scoop out balls of dough. Roll with your hands, flatten a bit, and place on the cookie sheet. Press gently with your thumb a little indent in the center of each. Place 12 pieces of dough on the sheet, sitting evenly about 1-1½ inch from each other.
- Using a teaspoon, add a dollop of Nutella in the center of each cookie.
- Using the same method as step five, add dough on top of each nutella-stuffed piece. Instead of forming an indent, this time form each piece into a "dome", covering each dollop of nutella. Press the edges of each cookie gently to ensure Nutella doesn't seep out during baking.
- Place in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Join the conversation:
Have you ever felt empowered by rejecting an opportunity?
Did you like this recipe? Pin it for later!
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Girl you had me at nutella… These look like little bites of heaven. Pinning now!
Haha! Thanks girl
Oh yum!! These look amazing!
Thank you!! They are quite delishhh
These look so delicious! I can’t wait to make these. I bet they would be yummy made into ice cream sandwiches!
Haha funny you say that, I did that exact thing and shared a pic on my instagram! 😀
Ooh yum! I can definitely see these made into ice cream sandwiches! Great idea and yummy recipe! Can’t wait to try these! Visiting from #TBB #FridaySharefest
I have definitely felt empowered from being rejected, but also from learning to say NO! Sometimes getting rejected is a sign that it just wasn’t meant to be for many reasons. This can be professionally or personally. I think rejection can make you stronger, happier, and more intuitive. You learn to accept and want things that really serve you.
ACKTIVE LIFE recently posted…#REALWomenWrinkle
I feel like with rejection, I used get so upset when I experienced. Now, I look at it and say it wasn’t meant to be, and it just means that something bigger/better awaits me!
The Blissful Balance recently posted…PB&J Protein Mug Cake
My stomach just audibly growled. Those look so yummy!
Amanda Elizabeth – Meet at the Barre recently posted…A Good Ole Fashioned Confessions Post
Thank you Amanda!! xo
The Blissful Balance recently posted…PB&J Protein Mug Cake
Gosh, I’m still working on how to say “no.” It’s so hard. Recently, I’ve finished a lot of projects and said no to things that weren’t 100% yes, so I have much more downtime and I’m like….Uhhhhh relax!? what is this thing that people speak of?! Such a balancing act!! (also, these cooks look GOOD!)
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen recently posted…Glute and Core Workout {Kettlebell + Bodyweight}
Haha exactly, what even is relaxation?! I don’t know what to do with myself lol!
The Blissful Balance recently posted…PB&J Protein Mug Cake
love this one!!! i’m getting SO much better at using the NO word but it is really hard sometimes, especially when so many people are wanting your attention at once!
It really is difficult, you’d never think so until it happens to you! You go girl
The Blissful Balance recently posted…PB&J Protein Mug Cake
Your words of wisdom always make me feel better. Learning how to say “no” in a culture where praise is associated with taking on more than we can handle is a powerful feeling.
Cayanne Marcus @healthyezsweet recently posted…An Open Letter to American Culture: I’m a Pretty Girl With A Problem
Aww thank you so much for reading, Cayanne <3 means so much. I'm glad you know that feeling!!
The Blissful Balance recently posted…PB&J Protein Mug Cake
i love nutella anything! so i definitely would love one of these cookies right now, they look great Xx
thalia recently posted…Golden Butter Cake with Pink Sea Salt Caramel and Honeycomb + a Saveur Nomination!
Thank you Thalia! I swear Nutella makes everything amazing haha. I hope you’ll try them. <3
The Blissful Balance recently posted…PB&J Protein Mug Cake
Ok, first of all
“I’m the type of person that needs to have a lot going on or else I’m incredibly unproductive and I feel like a couch potato. But once I do have a lot going on, I’m like: AHHH I HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON.”
A single sentence has never so accurately described my personality. We may be personality twins.
Second off, not only do these cookies look UNREAL, but the other recipe you linked afterwards? I’m literally drooling.
TWINSIES. Seriously though, I am the extreme of both lol “I’m bored”…”now I’m overwhelmed”. Girlfriend you need to make these!!
The Blissful Balance recently posted…PB&J Protein Mug Cake
Yeeessss everything about this post. I recently had to say no to an opportunity and the representative actually commended me for it. So that also helped me feel better about it not taking it.
These cookies look ridiculous.
p.s. I missed you 😀
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen recently posted…Chocolate Caramel Almond Butter Cups
Omg I thought you were going to say they were mad lol that’s so amazing!! It takes much more strength to say no to something that might be amazing, but not the right option or bad timing.
The Blissful Balance recently posted…PB&J Protein Mug Cake
So I have had this recipe up for a couple days, and these thoughts about saying no and yes to the right things have been running through my head. This past year has been a lot more of saying, ‘No’ and really trusting and seeking God’s will for my life instead of thinking that I need to always be doing everything for everybody. I still have an intense desire to do things in love, but I know that if I can’t do it in love then it’s not worth it, so I want to really seek that as I say, ‘Yes or no’ to things. It’s so hard, but I’m so thankful for your reminders and encouragement that it’s okay to focus on what you really need to focus on.
Next I’m going to focus on these cookies. <3
It is so hard for me to let go and let God handle it, but I am surely getting there. Thanks, Emily! I hope you like them!
The Blissful Balance recently posted…PB&J Protein Mug Cake
This post spoke volumes to me! Most recently I’ve stopped taking on new personal training clients. At first I felt like I was turning away ca$h, but now I know I’m actually saying “no” to more stress. It feels so good.
Jess @hellotofit recently posted…How to Handle a Changing Passion: Life Lately
That’s so great to hear!! Good for you for making that tough decision, it’s definitely hard to say no to cash!
The Blissful Balance recently posted…PB&J Protein Mug Cake