I ran an experiment last year where I said ‘no’ to just about everything for a few weeks. I clarified my boundaries around one question: if I say ‘yes’, will it take time away from writing?
This approach worked great for a while. I was able to protect my time, and in fact create more of it for the things I really wanted to do. I was more productive and my pages got turned in. Goals were achieved.
But I also learned quickly that I had to careful. Saying no is a dangerous default. Opportunity doesn’t like no. Serendipity is repelled by it.
So though our boundaries must be clear (for this often defines who we are), there has to be space for Yes. Saying Yes to the universe, that’s where the magic is….