Saying Yes to The Work Means Saying No to Other Things

But Just Because I Wanted to Do It Didn’t Mean I Did It

Saying yes to early morning photography was one thing, but saying no to all the other things that competed for that time slot was another.

Getting up early in the morning to go out and photograph meant not doing other things. I had to be really clear about this before it became a habit.

First of all, getting outdoors before sunrise meant saying no to sleeping later. I value my sleep, so that was a big consideration. It also meant saying no to staying up later in the evening. But these were things I was willing to do because my yes to photography was strong.

Getting up early even meant doing less meditation, or sometimes none. Meditation has always been a big priority for me. So saying no to it was huge for me. But it was honest. My desire to photograph was bigger, and I didn’t photograph every day so I could compromise.

As You Can See, a True Yes Comes with Lots of No’s

Even a little yes, comes with lots of no’s. So even if you’re just a little interested in doing The Work of Byron Katie as an ongoing practice, the question is, “What lower priority items am I willing to stop doing?

It’s all about priorities. Maybe The Work is not a priority at all for you. Then The Work gets the no. No problem. But if you have a yes to The Work without a no to the other things that compete for your time, The Work will not happen as an ongoing practice.

Sure, you may do it from time to time when the pain gets strong enough that doing The Work becomes a high priority again. But an ongoing practice requires some solid no’s.

No’s Are Not Negative

No’s to all the lesser priorities does not mean I don’t want to do them. It just means that I want to do The Work more than I want to do them. By saying no to my lesser priorities, I am creating focus on what I want to do.

A telephoto lens is powerful because it says no to almost all of the 360 degrees.

No is a very powerful, positive force. A yes without a no is just a wish. A yes with a no is the beginning of taking action.

So Take Some Time to Consider

Do you want to make The Work a steady practice? How high on your priority list is it? How often do you want to do it? When could you do it? And most importantly, what would you need to stop doing in order to do The Work regularly at that time?

Have a great weekend,
Todd

“And if The Work becomes your daily practice, you’ll find that there’s no longer any war in your life. When the war ends in you, it ends in your family. You’re the one who can end it.” Byron Katie, A Mind at Home with Itself