Yes?

We're told to say 'Yes' to opportunities. That way doors will open for us and we'll get to have experiences we otherwise might have missed out on.

We're told "if it's not a 'fuck yes!', then it's a 'no'" so that we don't spend our time working on projects that we're not entirely passionate about.

We're told that we have to learn to say 'no' so that we can set boundaries and protect our precious hours of productivity.

So which is it? Yes or No?

As with everything, there's no black and white answer. It's nuanced. It depends on your situation.

I have a habit of saying yes to things when I'm going through a up phase. Those weeks where I feel like I can juggle it all. The work and home life and my artistic pursuits and health and wellbeing.

And then along comes a down phase and it's all I can do to drag myself out of bed and into work each day. Let alone get the dishes and laundry done, eat well and keep making art.

When I'm in an up phase, I want to say yes and do all the things, to make up for the down phase that I know is coming. I don't know if I'll ever find a balance. I don't want to stop taking on things when I can, but they become a burden when I start to struggle. If I take on less, will there be less of a burden and therefore my downs won't go as deep? But what will I lose when I say no?