Friends,
I know you like to say “yes.”
If your cousin asks for your help, you find a way to make it happen.
If the PTA needs another volunteer, you are there.
If your co-worker “just needs to talk” for 90 minutes, you listen.
The problem with saying “yes,” is that:
“Every yes is a thousand nos.” (John Mark Comer)
You don’t like saying no, but because you say “yes” to these ancillary things, you end up saying “no” to these essential things.
Yes is a beautiful word, but it might end up ruining you. I’ve seen you say “yes” to all these things, and to try to be a superhero to everyone else, but not for yourself. You’ve spent so much time being there for everyone else that you’ve neglected yourself and your soul.
Life is a series of choices, and today you will have a lot of them. And if you like to say “yes”, then let me ruin that for you.
By saying “yes” to one lunch place, you’re saying “no” to a hundred places who would love your business.
By saying “yes” to that Netflix show, you’re saying “no” to dozens of shows including ones that your friends will have already watched.
By saying “yes” to a conversation with that co-worker, you’re saying “no” to all your other co-workers and friends.
You may like saying yes, but we all end up saying “no” to a thousand more things. So if you are like me and like saying yes, then it may be better to make your “yeses” count, rather than to like saying “yes”.
Love,
Aaron