Episode 6: The Power of Saying No: Creating Space for Peace and Purpose
Welcome back to the Vision to Victory blog—where we explore practical ways to turn your dreams into reality.
In our last post, we talked about the importance of being present and creating space for peace. We contrasted that with the common rhythm of anxiety, busyness, and burnout that so many people live in every day. If we want to live a more fulfilling, joyful life, we need something different. We need intentionality.
Today, we’re building on that idea by talking about another essential skill for cultivating peace: Learning to say no.
Why Saying No Matters
Saying no is something I’ve had to learn over time. It didn’t come naturally. For years, I would say yes to too many things—projects, commitments, social events—and end up feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and disconnected from the life I actually wanted.
Over time, I realized that every “yes” I gave out of obligation or distraction was a “no” to something more important.
What Saying No Can Look Like
Here are a couple personal examples:
Social media: A few years ago, while working toward my pilot’s license—a long-term goal that required intense focus—I decided to cut out social media completely. It wasn’t adding value; it was just taking up time and mental energy I needed elsewhere.
Alcohol: I also made the choice to stop drinking. For me, alcohol created relational and health-related problems. It didn’t serve my goals or who I wanted to become, so I let it go.
These choices were less about what was “bad” and more about what was best. Social media and alcohol aren’t inherently wrong, but in my life, they were getting in the way of peace and progress. So I said no.
The Harder Part: Saying No to Good Things
Sometimes, the hardest decisions are not about cutting out harmful habits—they’re about letting go of good things to make space for better things.
Maybe it’s a weekly hangout with friends that’s turned into an obligation. Or a recurring task that once served a purpose but now takes you away from your deeper goals. These moments require honest reflection:
Is this still serving me?
Could this time be better spent?
Am I saying yes because it aligns with my values—or because I feel guilty saying no?
As we fine-tune our lives, we’ll encounter more of these moments. Growth often means choosing between good and great.
Make Room for What Matters
Think of your life like a room. If you want to bring in new furniture, you have to move the old stuff out first. Creating space for peace, growth, and meaningful pursuits often means clearing out the clutter—mentally, emotionally, and practically.
When we say no to what’s no longer serving us, we create room for what is.
Two Questions to Reflect On
I’ll leave you with two reflective questions to help put this into practice:
Is there something I want to pursue, but I feel like I don’t have time for it?
If so, it may be time to look at how you're spending your time and energy. What could you say no to in order to create space?Are my habits and routines helping me get where I want to go—or are they something I have to work around?
If certain habits, relationships, or routines are no longer aligned with your values or vision, maybe it’s time to let them go and replace them with something better.
Final Thoughts
We’re building a rhythm of peace and pursuit:
Peace that comes from presence, contentment, and gratitude.
Pursuit that fuels meaningful goals and purpose.
Last time, we explored presence.
Today, we focused on the importance of saying no.
Say no to the things that don’t align—so you can say yes to the life that does.
Thanks for tuning into Vision 2 Victory, watch the full episode here.