the power of no
I wish I could paint the creative process that evolves in my head to accurately give you all insight into my world. In words; think of a large amusement park with many different attractions, zigzag lines, chaos and order, lots of colors, music, and so many options of rides. If it sounds exhausting, it’s because it is! My creative brain is sometimes on hyper overdrive. The constant flow of ideas (which I am very grateful for) can make me feel as if I am not doing enough if I don’t get them all done. This is a straight up LIE!
I am learning to pick and choose my projects carefully. When the ideas come I tuck some away for a later day in a journal. There are a ton of things I want to do, but I can only do a few things well at the same time. Saying no has been one of the most powerful words in my vocabulary to date. I read a wonderful book called The Best Yes by Lyssa Terkeurst. In summary, when we say no it allows us to say yes to God’s best option for our lives. I’ve been practicing this for the past three years and I have seen my productivity sky rocket and my days of rest increase.
I am sharing because I was a former YesAholic. I had good reasons for saying yes: I didn’t want to let people down, I wanted my own advancement, and I didn’t want to miss out on a great opportunity. However, those yeses were EXPENSIVE! They cost me time, money, and better opportunities.
If you are currently a YesAholic I challenge you to read The Best Yes and to try going one week with really considering the cost before saying yes. Are you up for the challenge?