Most stress isn’t from having too much to do—it’s from doing what doesn’t matter. I know this because I’ve lived it. There have been mornings when I woke up with a list a mile long, coffee in hand, heart already racing, and a feeling that if I didn’t do it all perfectly, something terrible would happen. I thought I was being productive. I thought I was responsible. But most of the time, I was just busy being busy, filling my hours with motion rather than meaning.
And somewhere in that chaos, I realized: I was spending my life on the wrong things. The tasks that drained me, the obligations that felt important only because I said yes too quickly, the perfectionism that whispered I had to do it all. That’s when I understood something profound: stress isn’t about the quantity of what we carry—it’s about carrying the wrong things.
Say No to What Drains You, Yes to What Fuels You
Today, I invite you to make a small but profound move. Say no to something that drains you or distracts you. It might be a meeting, a commitment, or even a habit that keeps you running in circles. And at the same time, say yes to something that fuels joy, connection, rest, or faith. Say yes to a conversation with a friend who makes your heart laugh, a moment of silence in the morning, a walk outside in the cold that reminds you the world is bigger than your to-do list. Say yes to something that reminds you why you’re alive.
Presence is born through choice—not default. Every “yes” or “no” we speak carries the power to create space in our lives. Our time is sacred. Treat it like something valuable, not disposable. Treat it like a gift, not a commodity to be spent recklessly on endless obligations that leave you empty. When you choose what matters, you create space for your soul to breathe. You let your heart remember that life isn’t a series of tasks to complete—it’s a collection of moments to live fully.
Presence Is Found in Choosing Well
I’ve started keeping a small journal, writing down the moments I want to say yes to before the day begins: a phone call that matters, a story read aloud to my child, ten minutes just to breathe. And the effect has been miraculous. I still do the work, I still fulfill responsibilities, but I do it from a place of intention instead of compulsion. The noise fades. The clutter eases. And I notice the beauty, the laughter, the sacred hidden in the ordinary.
So today, take a breath and look at your list. Ask yourself: Which yes will nourish me? Which no will protect me? Choosing what matters is not selfish—it’s how we care for the life we’ve been given. Presence, peace, and joy are not found in doing everything—they are found in choosing well.
