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Saying "No" and giving back. Constantly remind yourself that "this is entirely optional," whether it's a lunch meeting, a product feature, or your entire caree

Saying "No" and giving back. Constantly remind yourself that "this is entirely optional," whether it's a lunch meeting, a product feature, or your entire career. It helps you be more present—in the moment. If it doesn't excite you enough to be in the moment, say no next time. Eventually, your schedule will be more and more interesting and engaging to you. We become a slave to "yes" without realizing it. Derek Sivers has a good piece about this: https://sivers.org/hellyeah https://sivers.org/hellyeah Give back; or even better, practice preemptive giving. Not to be manipulative or trying to find some sort of karmic success; just because giving itself feels good and it causes you to start thinking from a more empathetic, gratitude-focused state of mind. I think the world needs more of this, and hell... it's easier to handle stress when you default to finding the positive in a situation than actively looking for something to be critical of.

pjlegato 10y ago
That all sounds great, if you're independently wealthy or at least have a well-padded bank account. What if the "option" you have is turning your entire family out onto the street if you decline? The "give back" mantra is a bourgeois affectation.
- zachsnow 10y ago
  There's a lot of things one can give that don't require buckets of cash, perhaps they meant something along the lines of: * time (contribute to a project, help a neighbor paint their living room, teach a friend to weave baskets or something) * kindness (listen to a friend's troubles over a beer, or assume the best in someone else's efforts, as opposed to criticizing) I agree that when I practice those things I am happier for it, anyway.