• Home
• About
• Archives
• Contact Me
• Donate
• Free Downloads
• Subscribe

The Key To Inner Peace and Simplicity: Saying No

The number one thing that gets in the way of inner peace and simplicity is clutter. No matter if it is physical, mental or commitment, clutter can be defined as something that is not a positive influence in our lives. Too much physical stuff robs us of peace by complicating the things we must take care of; it also absorbs our mental energy with its physical presence demanding our attention. Mental clutter, the ways we perceive ourselves, can often be just as energy-robbing. Commitment clutter comes when we get stuck doing too much. Even things that are worthwhile and can bring joy become a burden when there are too many of them.

So how do we rid ourselves of clutter? By saying NO. No to things we want to buy that serve no real purpose other than to bandage feelings. No to the negative voices from our past or present that want us to be stuck in a specific place. No when people ask us for our resources, be it time, money, whatever, when we are stretched thin.

Saying no is not easy, particularly if you are not used to doing it. An article over at Lifehacker, The Gentle Art of Saying No is a good place to start on Commitment Clutter. All the points are valid and worth a good read.

The best defense to commitment clutter is knowing what you have on your plate already. I remember being approached one Sunday to sit on the religious education committee at church. I thought for a moment, realized that I would have to give up more of my free time to work for the church (and I was already the webmaster, the sole computer support person and heavily involved in the music program, so it wasn’t like I wasn’t doing my share). I said, “No, I have too much on my plate already. Thanks for asking!” One of the ladies looked at me and said, “I wish I could say no like that!” The key was not apologizing, but firmly and nicely explaining I wasn’t available.

Saying no isn’t hard, but it takes practice. Saying no will enable you to limit commitment clutter and free up your time for living your life in joy.

Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader or email.

© 2005-2008 LauraEarnest.com | Powered by WordPress | Deep Blue Theme
Terms of Service