Hey,
I'm Chibs O'Kerricke.
Welcome to The Daily Striver.
In a world full of opportunities,
Saying yes can feel like the path to success.
But for strivers like us,
The real key to achieving our goals and maintaining balance often lies in knowing when to say no.
Warren Buffett once said,
The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say no to almost everything.
Today,
We're going to talk about the power of saying no.
Not out of negativity,
But with the intention of focusing on what truly matters.
Now before we begin,
Let's just have a quick check-in with what's going on in the mind and the body.
And in particular,
Notice whether or not you're here,
Whether you're present.
Are you focused on today's practice or have you got other things running through your mind?
Worries about the week?
Stresses about the day,
Perhaps?
Not that it matters,
But we do want to be aware of where our mind is.
If we're feeling calm and relaxed,
Let's bring awareness to the fact that we're calm and relaxed.
If our mind is elsewhere,
Let's bring awareness to the fact that our mind is elsewhere.
Okay,
Good.
And now let's find our breath.
We don't need to do anything special to the breath,
No need to slow it down or deepen it.
We're just tuning into the inhale and we're tuning into the exhale.
Breathe in,
The body expands.
We breathe out,
Body softens and relaxes.
Notice how the cool air feels as it moves through the nostrils and the in breath.
As the lungs and the chest and the stomach expand.
Then there's a short pause as the breath changes direction and the warm air leaves the nostrils and the body softens and relaxes and sinks deeper into the chair.
Let's take a couple more deep breaths in and slow breaths out.
Okay,
Good.
Now that we're relaxed and focused,
I want you to reflect on the last time you said yes to something you didn't really want to do.
How did you feel afterwards?
Did doing that thing take away time or energy from something more important?
Now I want you to think of a current opportunity or task,
Something that's on your to-do list today.
Does it align with your goals and values or does it feel like it's a another obligation?
If it's not in alignment,
Can you imagine yourself saying no to it with kindness and clarity?
How does it feel to set that boundary?
As you breathe in,
Allow yourself to prioritize what truly matters and as you breathe out,
Let go of the need to say yes to everything.
Notice how setting boundaries can create space for the work and relationships that align with your purpose.
Steve Jobs famously said that he was as proud of the things Apple didn't do as he was of the things it did.
When he returned to the company,
He cut Apple's product line from 350 to just 10.
By saying no to many good products,
He made room for Apple to focus on creating great products.
This ability to say no in a strategic way was a key part of Apple's transformation into one of the world's most valuable companies.
Next time you're asked to take on a new commitment,
Pause and ask yourself,
Does this align with my top priorities?
What will I have to give up to do this?
If the answers don't feel right,
Practice saying no,
Kindly but firmly.
Remember,
Saying no isn't about turning people down or avoiding responsibilities,
It's about protecting your energy for the things that matter most.
Thanks for joining me today.
Try to create more space for what truly matters and I'll see you tomorrow for the Daily Striver.
