Problem with always saying ‘YES’

Many times we commit to too many things and fail to say no. We say, “Sure, I’ll do it,” or “No problem, I’ll take care of it,” when deep down, we know we don’t really want to, or that we already have too much on our plates.

The problem with always saying yes is two-fold. First, the end result is almost always feeling overwhelmed, stressed and tired. There is simply a point when enough is enough; a point of diminishing return when our attitude, spirit and even our productivity begins to suffer. By saying yes too often, we begin to feel victimized and resentful that we have so much to do. Because we tend to feel guilty when we say no, it’s often difficult to see that we were the ones who got ourselves into this mess by failing to say no more often.

The second major problem with failing to say no when it’s appropriate to do so is that you end up with a slightly insincere attitude. In other words, you are doing things you really don’t want to be doing or shouldn’t be doing – but you are acting, on the surface, as if everything is just fine. For example, you’ll agree to perform a task by saying, “Oh, it’s all right,” when what you really need is a day off to yourself. Then because you don’t get your much-needed rest, you feel victimized or angry that so many people ask favors of you!

Again, you played a key role in the creation of your own stress, but you believe the stress is caused by outside forces, or that it’s inevitable.

Everyone is a thief

Alexander the Great arrested one thief, and was going to punish him. The thief pleaded, "Sir, you are punishing me, but what is the difference between you and me? I am a small thief, you are a great thief. You are occupying other's kingdom by force; you have no right. Because you are strong, you are conquering country after country. I am also doing the same thing. So what is the difference?" Alexander considered, "Yes, I am nothing but a big thief. I am no better than you." Actually everyone is thief for we have stolen God's property. We may be very honest but we are taking Krishna's money for our sense gratification, and advertising as very moral. We don't accept the real proprietor, and think, "I am the proprietor." That is the fault. We construct a building, but from where do we get the stone, wood and earth? We cannot artificially produce, they are God's. We simply give our labor. We work with our hands; they are not our hands but God's, for when the power to use the hand is withdrawn by God, it becomes useless. Krishna is not in want of money, for He is the original proprietor of everything. But still He asks us for charity for our interest. The sooner we return Krishna's money to Krishna, the better situated we will be. For instance, if one earns a great deal of money but tries to avoid paying income tax, the government considers him to be a criminal. He cannot say, "I have earned this money. Why shall I pay tax to the government?" No, he must pay or risk punishment. Similarly, in the higher sense everything we have is Krishna's or God's, and it must be utilized in accordance with His desires.