Photo by Gemma Evans on Unsplash
We’ve been told since birth (or at least since grade school) that your worth in the world is based on your ability to produce. I don’t believe that, and I bet you don’t really either, yet we’re in the habit of acting like it’s true anyway. For the next three weeks I’m writing about common mistakes most of us are making that keep us locked into the lie that we can’t do the things that matter most, and what to do instead so you can Get Shit Done.
The Cult of Busy? Yeah, you’re probably a member.
Someone asks how you’re doing and the refrain is always, “Busy! Good, but so busy!”
We’re addicted to our busyness, and it keeps us from doing the things we really want to do. We take on projects and responsibilities that are “good enough” and it interferes with our ability to do the things that are most meaningful.
This summer I had three interesting yoga-related opportunities come my way. A friend from high school asked me to teach a monthly yoga class at the bar she owns. Another friend asked if I wanted to teach 420 yoga (where both students and teacher get high before class--yes, this is a real thing.) A fellow yoga teacher connected me with a therapist who leads yoga+trauma therapy groups.
These first two were easy to say no to: I rarely drink and I don’t smoke, so neither is really a fit for my vibe as a yoga teacher or a person. The trauma therapy group, however, was harder to parse.
On paper, this collaboration was totally in my wheelhouse: I teach trauma-sensitive yoga, I’m a trauma survivor myself, I love talk therapy, etc. But for some reason, the emails from the (very nice) therapist sat unanswered in my inbox. Finally I remembered this little piece of meme-gleaned wisdom:
If it isn’t a “Hell yes!” it’s probably a “No”.
I replied to the therapist and said politely that it’s just not a good time for me right now, and I connected her to another yoga teacher who’d expressed interest.
It’s not easy to say No. We’re trained to be compliant and obedient, particularly those of us socialized as girls/women. But as writer Cheryl Strayed says, “No is the power the good witch wields.”
No helps us to stop overfilling our days.
No gives us the ability to clear away our temporal clutter.
No gives us our power back.
Here’s a little mantra to work with as you practice saying No this week:
I’m divesting from the cult of busy. I do not subscribe to the hustle. My value as a human is not connected to my productivity. I say No to the “good enough” to make space for my best.
Much love,
Bear
P.S. Want to learn to overcome these obstacles?
Get Shit Done is a six week course that teaches productivity skills for weirdos. This is not another listicle of productivity hacks or a corporate efficiency bootcamp. This is real-life strategy for how to get clear, take action and Get Shit Done.
CLICK HERE to learn more!
Registration closes September 15. Space is limited!
