Why Saying Yes to Everything Is Costing You More Than You Think
By Susan Larimer
It was a walk on the boardwalk — ocean air, clear skies — when it hit me.
I was thinking about a woman in my life who had said yes to everything. Every request. Every committee. Every favor asked. She had the best of intentions every single time. She wanted to be the person people could count on, the easy button, the one who showed up.
But here’s what happened instead: I barely saw her anymore. She was exhausted, emotionally drained, and honestly — a little miserable.
Sound familiar?
The Hidden Cost of Being the “Yes” Girl
Here’s something nobody talks about enough: every yes comes with a hidden price tag.
When you say yes to something you don’t want to do, you’re automatically saying no to something else — your family, your business, your rest, your self. You just don’t always feel the trade-off right away.
I learned this the hard way. My husband is a pastor, and when someone needed a Sunday school teacher, I said yes — even though, if I’m being completely honest, small kids are not my thing. Like, at all. But no one else was stepping up, and I felt guilty, so I volunteered.
Every Sunday became a drag. I was showing up unprepared in my heart, even if I had the lesson ready. The kids weren’t thriving. I wasn’t thriving.
Then I stepped down.
And almost immediately, a woman stepped up who absolutely lit up at the chance. She had curriculum ideas, she connected with the kids instantly, and those children flourished. All because I finally let go of something that was never mine to carry.
When you hold on to the wrong yes, you’re actually blocking the right person from stepping in.
Why Direct Sellers Say Yes Even More
If you’re in direct sales, you know this feeling on a whole other level. The fear of missing out is real. Say no to a vendor event? You might lose a customer. Say no to helping your upline? You might get left out next time. Say no to one more party? That might be the one that changes everything.
Introducing the Intentional Life Workbook
That walk on the boardwalk didn’t just give me clarity — it gave me a mission. I created The Intentional Life Workbook to help women like you do what I had to learn the hard way: figure out what deserves your yes, release what doesn’t, and stop feeling guilty about the difference.
This workbook walks you through:
- A full life inventory — every role you carry, from mom and wife to team leader and room mom, and whether each one drains you, excites you, or is somewhere in the middle
- Foundation — Your personal mission, vision, and values
- The Filter — Evaluating every role and responsibility
- The Practice of No — How to say no with confidence and grace
- Thriving with Less — Building your intentional life plan
Because here’s the truth: when you say no to the wrong things, you make space for the right person to say yes. And when you say yes, you mean it — and that changes everything.
Start Here: Your Free Starter Guide
Not sure where to begin? I’ve pulled together Module 1 as a free starter guide so you can take your first step without any commitment. It’ll walk you through the life inventory exercise — writing down every role you carry and asking: Does this drain me? Does it excite me? Or is it neutral?
That one exercise alone can be a game-changer.
👉 Download the Free Intentional Life Starter Guide
Ready for the Full Workbook?
If you’re ready to go all in and work through the complete framework, the full Intentional Life Workbook is available for just $7. It’s one of the best investments you’ll make in yourself this year — and I mean that.
👉 Grab the Full Intentional Life Workbook — Just $7
You deserve a calendar that excites you. You deserve to show up fully in the roles that are actually yours. And you deserve to let go of the rest — without apology.
Let’s do this together.
XO, Susan
Want more? Lisa Duck and I talk about this — and so much more — every week on The Other 99% Podcast. Come hang out with us.
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