Just Say “Okay”

Avoiding unnecessary arguments.

- By A Kartikey

Somewhere in the middle of a heated discussion—voices rising, nerves fraying, and tension mounting—you might have felt it: the sudden exhaustion, a weariness that makes you question if this disagreement is even worth it. In that fragile moment, choosing to say “okay” and stepping away can feel like both surrender and wisdom.

It’s a small word, often dismissed as a cop-out or an escape. But in truth, “okay” is a conscious decision. It signals restraint, maturity, and— perhaps most importantly—a deep understanding that not every battle deserves your time, energy, or mental peace. It isn’t about conceding; it’s about conserving.

In a world wired for reaction, where everyone seems to be carrying a speech bubble filled with opinions and rebuttals, the ability to disengage has become a quietly radical act. This isn't about being indifferent or emotionally numb. Rather, it's about recognising that constant conflict—over who's right, what's true, and whose version of the story wins—is a fast track to emotional burnout.

Take, for instance, relationships. Whether it's a spouse, a sibling, or a best friend, it's often not the grand betrayals but the tiny disagreements that wear people down. The dishwasher wasn't loaded “correctly,” a birthday wish was forgotten, someone spoke out of turn during a family dinner. These moments, while trivial on the surface, can balloon into disproportionate tension if we let them. Often, when we argue, we're not even responding to the moment—we're reacting from past hurt, unmet expectations, or bruised egos.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Ruchi Kapoor, who has worked extensively with couples and families, shares, “When someone chooses to respond with ‘okay’ in a potentially explosive situation, they’re not avoiding the issue—they’re preventing escalation. This delay gives both parties space to reflect, calm down, and, often, realise the argument wasn’t worth it to begin with.”