If we must accomplish our biggest goals, we can’t allow distractions to rule over our
lives. We need to get organized and lead our way to the promise land of
fulfillment and serenity.
But this
may require us to do what some people near us may dislike—saying ‘no’ to
anything that may hinder our chosen objective. Yet we need to be always careful about the
commitments we choose to take on in additional to our unavoidable
obligations.
Experience
has shown that people who hit their lofty targets, follow a clear plan to get
there. Like them, if we must reach our own goals, we need the ability to stay
focused on our path, no matter what happens by the wayside.
You see, due
to our sense of courtesy, we tend to quickly say yes to different requests directed at
us not because we feel those requests are important, but because we don't want
to appear insensitive to the wants of others.
However, we
often forget that our capacity to serve others is proportional to the
actualization of our full potential. And this actualization may not happen if we don’t decide to concentrate our energies on the critical goals at hand. And to concentrate on the things that really
matter, we sometimes have to say no.
With that
said, this doesn’t mean we should be cold, harsh and dispassionate in our rejection of
tiny demands on our very limited time, rather, it does mean that we should be
as gracious as possible whenever we feel saying no is the right move to make.
In this
direction, W. Clement Stone, ‘the author of Success System that Never Fails’
has a good counsel for you and me:
“You have a right to say no. Most of us have very weak and flaccid
'no' muscles. We feel guilty for saying no. We get ostracized and challenged
for saying no.
Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do
the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your
life with integrity.”
To achieve
what we are proud of and increase our eventual capacity to help the people in
real need, we may have to say no to a thousand things along the way.
Gavin de
Becker, the author of ‘Fear Less’ even goes a bit far on this principle. He talks
to those who might take undue annoyance at exercising your fundamental human right
of choice.
He writes: "No"
is a word that must never be negotiated, because the person who chooses not to
hear it is trying to control you. Declining to hear "no" is a signal
that someone is either seeking control or refusing to relinquish it.”
Finally,
understand that great achievements demand a lot of focus, energy and time, all
of which are in pretty limited supply. So using them wisely is not only
necessary but essential to maximizing your potential and offering your best
contribution to the society in which you live.
