No

Meditation

Saying “Yes” is easy. You may have become addicted to the word, even. As a recovering doer, I know. I started a whole movement in my city called #yesphx, for crying out loud.

Doers double as calendar Tetris players, squeezing in this before making that other space work, all while keeping it together and staying alive—as if that’s some high watermark. The fact is, saying “Yes” too often results in work that isn’t to the standard you know is possible. The word results in busyness, burnout, and, failure to focus on what’s most valuable.

So, as easy as saying “Yes” may seem, it isn’t easy over the long-term. It’s very often the weaker word.

On the other hand, “No” is hard. You may have come to believe that it’s the easier thing to say, never even considering the word when the people in your life ask you of something. You’ve taken it as a badge of pride that you’re the people around you can count on you—your boss, your church, your friends, your family.

Consider Jesus, though.

While the Son of Man did spend time with crowds during His ministry, relatively speaking, He spent the majority of His time with a handful of disciples He called friends (VERSE). He recognized that His own hometown didn’t have the faith to accept His ministry, so He moved on (VERSE). He was asked questions to His face that He didn’t even answer (VERSE). In other words, as much as we find our “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ, He also knows how to give a resounding “No” (VERSE).

And as much as you may feel like you have to give a reason as to why you’re saying “No,” we should take a cue from Jesus and keep it short. Just “No” will do.