No is a complete sentence.

I haven’t written in a while, even so I am a haphazard writer at the best of times. I absolutely love it when I write and really miss it when I don’t. One of the reasons I haven’t been writing is that I haven’t found the time. I also haven’t found time to read which is so not me (hasn’t stopped me buying books at the same rate though!). Why? Why haven’t I been doing the things I love so much? Writing and reading are just two of many things I enjoy that I haven’t found the time to do. Don’t get me started on exercise!

I saw this quote from Anne Lamott this morning “no is a complete sentence” and it really struck a chord with me.

I don’t like the no word, and I absolutely suck at saying it. I have always been the same, and friends and previous work mates who read this will know exactly what I am talking about. You see I like doing lots of things. Lots and lots of different things. If you could see my current to do list you might think I am a little crazy. This past couple of months has been quite manic. Some of my business ventures have really taken off, I have bookings coming out of my proverbials, I am enrolled in three courses and yet I have continued to take on more and more. Some other huge projects I have been collaborating on have all come into fruition just this week and I have to admit I can’t do it all.

 

I am not wonder woman.

I wish I was.

I pretend I am.

 

At the end of last week I started to feel a bit overwhelmed, I could feel it coming on. I knew something had to give, but I didn’t listen to my intuition and kept taking on more. On Monday night I collapsed into bed in complete exhaustion, slept for 11 hours and woke Tuesday with no voice. No cold, no warning signs, but NO VOICE! I am an extrovert who relies on communication in order to do business and I could not speak. Wow! Clearly I had to stop – everything and take a chill pill. It was hard, but I have done it, well sort of anyway. I cancelled all of my appointments, and guess what – the world didn’t end! I said no to a few things and guess what – the world didn’t end! This has been a great opportunity and a big learning for me. I talk about self care and share awesome strategies but I really suck at walking my talk in this area. One of my big things for this year is to walk my talk.

So today I am going to sit on my comfy lounge in my beautiful little home all day, without saying a word and reflect on my ridiculous to do list and see what I can cancel, defer, delegate and rearrange.

I encourage everybody to take a minute today to see what you have taken on and ask yourself some questions.

 

1. Is it for my higher good?

2. Do I enjoy it?

3. Do I want to do it?

 

If yes, then by all means make it happen, if no;

 

1. What would happen if I said no?

2. What is the worst thing that would happen if I; didn’t go, said no, or rescheduled?

3. What do I need to do to reduce my commitments?

 

Give yourself a break, before your body forces you to – you deserve it.

 

P.S. Another Anne Lamott gem is one of my all time favourite quotes – we all need to remember this. “Oh my God, what if you wake up some day, and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen.”

Today’s Guest Blogger is Rae-Anne Holloway, who is a Facilitator, Coach and Mental Health Educator at Transpiral Training and Development. You can learn more about her story and what she has to offer at her website www.transpiral.com.au