Saying “No”

It took me three years to finally achieve my goal. How do I know it took three years?

As I was reviewing my journal, I stumbled upon a question I had answered previously. The question was,

What’s one action you could take today that would make your work life easier?”

My response was brief and clear: the one action I could take to simplify my work life would be to say no to tasks I no longer wish to do. Yet, it took me three years to act on this realization. Why did it take so long? I’m still pondering the reasons.

One reason that stands out is my belief that I needed to keep myself constantly occupied—a rationale that, though true, wasn’t necessarily the best. Equally true is the fact that I am quite busy with work, and I found myself doing tasks that I no longer found fulfilling or necessary. Despite this, I struggled to decline these tasks. After three long years, I finally came to the realization that if not now, then when? I also questioned why I kept saying yes without a good answer. It was time to stop saying yes to what I didn’t want and start saying yes to what I did. What a novel concept.

Many of us humans remain in jobs for a multitude of reasons. Often, money is the primary motivator. I once had a boss who advised me to explore other job opportunities, suggesting that doing so could reveal whether the grass is greener elsewhere or where I currently am.

Now I understand that life is too short to continue doing work that no longer resonates with me. I always have the choice to stay or leave—it’s entirely up to me. External factors may influence my decision, but ultimately, it’s my decision.

Today, I choose to be where I truly want to be. What about you? What are you doing that you should be saying no to?