
#215 The Art of Saying No to Live a More Focused, Quality Life ft. Peter Kim, MD
In this episode, Dr. Peter Kim explores the art of saying no and how it can lead to a more focused and quality life. Discover the power of setting boundaries, prioritizing your time, and choosing what truly matters. Tune in to get insights into the strategies and mindset shifts necessary to live a more intentional and fulfilling life by learning to say no.
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Episode Highlights
Now, let’s look at what we discussed in this episode:
- The Importance of Saying No in Your Life
- Understanding the Value of Your Time
- How to Politely Say No
- Reflecting on Opportunity Cost
Here’s a breakdown of how this episode unfolds.
Episode Breakdown
Importance of Saying No in Your Life
Peter begins by sharing the common feeling of being overwhelmed by busy schedules and numerous commitments, particularly in professional and personal life.
He reflects on the challenge of balancing work, family, and personal interests, realizing the need to prioritize and delegate tasks to manage mental energy effectively. With this in mind, he shares some of his experiences on the importance of saying “yes” to fewer obligations and learning to say “no” more often to prevent burnout and improve focus on what truly matters.
Understanding the Value of Your Time
On his first point, Peter stresses the importance of valuing one’s time and learning to say “no” strategically to prioritize high-value tasks and responsibilities.
He highlights the concept that saying “yes” to something means saying “no” to other opportunities, emphasizing the need to be intentional about commitments to improve focus, productivity, and overall well-being. Peter reasons that being selective about commitments that align with personal and family interests, ultimately guide you in understanding the value of your time.
How to Politely Say No
When talking about the difficulty of saying “no” to requests and the internal struggle that comes with it, Peter reflects on the guilt associated with declining opportunities and the need to overcome unhelpful beliefs that hinder the ability to say no respectfully.
To counter this, he emphasizes the importance of expressing gratitude when declining offers, providing a brief explanation without feeling the need to give detailed excuses, and staying truthful about current priorities and commitments.
Next, he also talks about the importance of maintaining positive relationships when declining opportunities and suggests leaving the door open for future possibilities. By offering alternative suggestions, expressing gratitude, and being honest when declining offers, you not only prevent burning bridges but also convey that you are willing to go above and beyond to keep the connection.
Peter shares that practicing these techniques helps in effectively managing commitments and maintaining authenticity in interactions.
Reflecting on Opportunity Cost
To sum it all up, Peter closes by discussing the concept of opportunity cost in decision-making, highlighting the importance of investing time and energy wisely to avoid spreading oneself too thin.
He shares personal experiences of feeling overwhelmed by saying yes to numerous commitments, leading to stress and lackluster results. But by learning to say no and prioritize effectively, he regained control over his schedule, focusing on what truly matters. Peter encourages everyone, especially those feeling overworked, to practice saying no to unnecessary commitments to reclaim energy and regain control over their time.
“Only your family remembers that you worked extra, that you worked that weekend shift, that you gave up your time. No one else will remember but your family, and that hit hard for me.” — Dr. Peter Kim