Saying “Yes” by Saying “No”. What will you say “yes” to today?
Justin Livingston, an online business guru, says, “Commitment is an exclusionary process. When you commit to something, by definition there are other things you can’t do.” Said another way, there is always an opportunity cost with the choices we make.
Often what we’re saying “no” to is more important than what we’re saying “yes” to. If we never evaluate what we want to say “yes” to, it’s almost impossible to know what to say “no” to.
*Questions to consider when thinking about what you want to say “yes” to:
What’s most important to you regarding your health?
What’s most important to you regarding your family?
What’s most important to you regarding your career or business?
What’s most important to you regarding your finances?
What’s most important to you regarding your closest relationships?
What’s most important to you regarding fun and recreation?
What’s most important to you regarding how you spend your time right now?
Write those things down. Before saying “yes” to anyone or any project, evaluate whether it moves you closer to those things that are important to you.
Saying “Yes” by Saying “No” Worksheet
By saying “no” to: I am saying “yes” to:
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By saying “yes” to: I am saying “no” to:
__________________________ ___________________________
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Using the worksheet helps us choose our “yeses” more carefully. Each “yes” comes with a “no” to something else. Managing our opportunity costs and choosing our “yeses” well helps us commit to what’s most important.
The ultimate question to consider: “Is the “yes” worth it to you?”
*Institute of Social + Emotional Intelligence
