The Power of No
Wednesdays are simplicity days at SimpleProductivity blog.
Originally I had scheduled a book review in this slot. It was about saying no to things as a method to getting what you want out of life. Unfortunately, I had to say “no” to the book because it didn’t deliver what it promised.
But I started thinking about the Power of No. It’s a really powerful concept, especially from a standpoint of productivity, simplicity, and simplifying productivity.
Saying No Means Saying Yes To Something Else
One of the “a-ha” moments I had with regard to this concept was that when I say yes to something, I am automatically saying no to something else. The reverse is true as well. When I say no to something, I am automatically saying yes to something else.
So the question becomes, what am I saying yes to? And is it what I truly want or need to be doing?
It’s All About Choices
They say that choosing not to decide is making a decision. In the same light, going with the moment is also making a decision.
The question becomes one of choice. But also to make sure that it is a conscious choice and not one of default.
Do you know what you are saying yes to? What you are saying no to?
Knowing Your Goals
A large chunk of being successful with choosing what you do is to understand what is important to you. There are two key phrases in that sentence: “important” and “to you”.
Do you know what is important? That is where your priorities should lie. Otherwise you have created a discord within your life where your actions are not in alignment with your beliefs.
Do you know what is important to you? Many times we are asked to do things that are important to others. But are they truly important to us? Or is the other person important enough to us that we are willing to do something unimportant?
The only way you can make progress toward your goals is by working on them. Things don’t happen without effort.
Have A Measuring Stick
I am not one for unrelenting work toward goals. You have to have times of fun and relaxation, too, or you will burn out. This is where a measuring stick comes in handy.
You know what your goals are, you know what has to be done to make them work. Next you need to decide how much time you have taken to relax, and what this current situation will bring.
Is the task at hand more work? Are you in desperate need of some down time?
Or is it something fun, but you have been doing lots of play and no work this week?
By measuring the tasks against not only what we have to do, but also what we have done, we have a better frame of reference for a yes or no.
Conclusion
Using the word “no” well is a tricky thing, but it is only being conscious of what the yes and no answers in our lives can help us make conscious decisions and avoid burnout.
Photo by sboneham. Licensed under Creative Commons.
