Your “maybe” is usually a no that’s too scared to commit, and people plan around it anyway.

Maybe feels kind because it avoids the moment of disappointing somebody. What it does instead is spread that disappointment across a week, while the other person holds a spot, delays a decision and waits on you. The kindness is for you, not for them. They would have preferred the answer you already knew.

When you catch yourself typing maybe, check whether you are genuinely undecided or just avoiding a no. If it is the second, send the no now and add nothing defensive. It will be over in one message rather than five.