Hell Yeah or No

August 22, 2011
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Shivers advises: “When you say no to most things, you leave room in your life to throw yourself completely into that rare thing that makes you say ‘hell, yeah!’ ” Sounds a lot easier to me than it actually is. What’s your experience?

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  • Gibrán says:
    August 22, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    This a very real goal for me. Thanks for posting. Wondering what to do with those admin tasks that I don’t want to do but are often an essential part of the work I do want to do!

    Reply
  • Cynthia Silva Parker says:
    August 22, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    That’s one challenge, for sure. The other is my own question about we, as a society, can make this as true as possible for as many people as possible. There are a certain number of jobs that are essential but maybe not so inspiring.

    Reply
  • Beth Tener says:
    August 24, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    In making these decisions, I often refer back to this similar quote: “The reality is that every time you way YES to something you really don’t have time for or the desire to do, you are saying NO to something you’ve already committed to do.” – Anonymous

    I found with practice it gets easier to say no (without as much agonizing.) Though to really have the time and space to be relaxed and fully focused on the “Hell Yeah” things also requires saying no to things I would really enjoy. It takes commitment to not be over-committed.

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  • Cynthia Silva Parker says:
    August 25, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    Thanks Beth. It certainly does take commitment not to be over-committed. Sometimes, though, there are things that just “come with the territory” of being a mother, spouse, colleague, etc. that I am not particularly excited about, but are part of what it means to keep my larger commitments to family, work, justice, faith, etc.

    For instance, people always ask me after a vacation if I am rested. Being a mom and wife means that vacations need to work for all of us (including me), which usually means less rest/reading/relaxation and more play than I would choose if I were on my own. So, I say no to self care to say yes to participating with my family. And, true, the bigger yes’s create the context for the smaller daily decisions that follow.

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  • Christian Flores-Carignan says:
    August 26, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    I love it, Cynthia! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • Charlie Jones says:
    August 29, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    Curious how “Maybe” fits into this equation?

    Reply
  • Cynthia Silva Parker says:
    August 30, 2011 at 10:58 am

    Good question Charlie! What do you think?

    Reply

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