In his 2014 book—The Power of No—James Altucher writes: “No is an incredibly painful, brave word to say. How many times have you had to say no only to have it cause anguish, arguments, and anxiety? Even the hours, days, and months before you say no you are filled with anxiety: “Should I?” “Could I?” “What will happen?” But you have the right to say no.”

The problem is—no is not always the right answer. Lazy people say no all the time. The power of no is not a license for being a boat anchor. It’s not permission to bury your God-given gifts.

So, when is “no” appropriate? Figuring this out can be challenging, so let me offer a few ideas:

Be missional

Get in touch once again with your assignment… your calling… your primary responsibilities. If saying yes to an invitation, or an open door, will cause these pursuits to fail—no is appropriate. Use your mission as a filter to help you decide what you will and won’t do. God holds you accountable for what He has assigned to you… not for what He hasn’t assigned to you.

Be mindful

When asked to take on a project, do some homework: Is this opportunity temporary or long-term? How much time will it require? What can I let go of in order to free up the time this new task requires? Am I tempted to say yes here because I want people to like me? Or because I fear disappointing them? Or… do I sense God compelling me to do this?

Be methodical

Resist the urge to immediately accept the invitation to work on a project or join a team. A better strategy is to say … “Give me a day to think about it and I’ll get back to you.” Sleeping on a decision can bring amazing clarity. If a response is required sooner, at a minimum take some time to consider the invite before you say yes.

If you’re an achiever, a Type-A personality, a go-getter—saying no will be especially difficult for you.  If you default to people-pleasing—saying no will often feel wrong. If you’re entrepreneurial—saying no will seem inhibiting to your organization’s growth. If you fall into the above categories, the power of no is important for you to learn. Why?

Because the power of no helps you stay:

Centered

One of the biggest threats to your purpose in life is the sheer number of options in front of you. Around every corner distraction waits to pounce on your purpose and knock you off track. The power of no will keep you focused. And focus makes you more effective. No also helps you stay:

Sane

The epidemic of depression and anxiety in our country has many contributors. Being unable to say no is a major factor. Busy Americans spin a lot of plates in the air, often because in their circles, workaholism is cheered. But here’s an ugly truth about workaholism—it gives us a false sense of importance. And it wars against our sanity.

You may be wondering… “OK, I’m semi-interested in this power of no idea. But how do I actually make it work?” Great question. For sure, we can flub up when it comes to the power of no. So tune into next week’s blog where we’ll explore, from a practical perspective, how to say no.