What Will You Say “No” To Today
To get anything done, you have to be willing to say both “yes” and “no.”
The “yes” is not just to a project or idea or request. If it’s important, then the “yes” is also to risk, to the unknown, to the possibility of failure.
But once you say “yes” you also have to say “no.” What I appreciated about this brief video of an interview with Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love
She’s talking about writing, of course, but I think this applies to parenting (new activity for your child or volunteer opportunity at school), leadership (new initiative in your organization), ministry (a new program or plan), academics (new essay or speaking invitation), and so forth. Anything new demands creativity, time, and energy, and to do it well means both a “yes” to the risks inherent and a “no” to all that will distract you from doing it well.
Whatever your particular venue, Gilbert’s insight provides a couple of questions that are worth asking ourselves. Before you accept a new invitation or start a new project, ask
“Does this deserve my full attention and creativity?”
“Am I willing to say ‘no’ to other things I want to do to see this through?” and
“What will I give up right now to ensure that I do this new project well?”
We all, I think, harbor a fantasy that we really can do everything. We know that’s not true, would never say it aloud, but nevertheless still sort of think it’s true, or at least act like it’s true, or think it should be true (and feel guilty when it proves not to be!). But we can’t. You can’t. I can’t. And when we try, we not only exhaust ourselves but sap our strength, vitality, and creativity from the things – whether it’s a book, a project, or a relationship – that really deserve us.
Two notes: 1) If you receive this post by email, you may need to click here to watch the video.
2) Thanks to Dan Pink (www.danpink.com) for the lead to the video.
This is something we’re struggling with in our setting too. What aren’t we going to do, stuff that’s good and faithful and valuable, in order that we might be most effective in living into the unique calling God has given our community.
Steve Jobs talked about the importance of saying no back in 1997. It’s interesting to reflect on how painful and difficult the years between 1997 must have been before Apple emerged in the mid 2000’s with a clear and focused identity.