When you think of all the things you’re currently involved with, why did you commit to doing them? What prompted you to say “yes” in the first place, and why do you keep doing them?

You probably do many of them because you “have to”… that’s just part of being a responsible adult. All of your decisions, whether voluntary or mandatory, got you to where you’re at today. Certain people and opportunities came into your life and you chose to pursue them. They resonated with you because you valued them, so you said “yes”.

And every time you said “yes” to something, you ended up with less time for current and future yes’s. But that probably didn’t stop you, right? Yes after yes after yes.

The law of supply and demand reminds you of what you already knew. Every time you say yes and overfill your schedule, your time becomes increasingly scarce and more valuable. Eventually, you run out of time and have to start saying “no”.

The real question is… how intentional are you with every one of your yes’s and no’s? Besides saying yes to your life’s obligations, do the rest of your yes’s align with what you truly value?

Of course, how you decide to allocate your time might disappoint some people. And that’s okay. Everybody walks a different path. Choosing the one that reflects your values is up to you.