WEBVTT - If you think it will be fun, say yes

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.

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<v Speaker 1>Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>Today's tip is for when you get an opportunity, even

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<v Speaker 1>though you aren't looking for more to do. If you

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<v Speaker 1>think it will be fun, say yes. You will find

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<v Speaker 1>the energy somewhere. Indeed, you will probably wind up with

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<v Speaker 1>more energy then when you started. Now, this tip may

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<v Speaker 1>seem a little strange coming from me. I am always

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<v Speaker 1>telling people to build more open space into their lives

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<v Speaker 1>and to plan how they'll spend their time. But here's

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<v Speaker 1>the thing. Our plans are tools to help us shape

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<v Speaker 1>the lives we want. Plans help us dedicate time to

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<v Speaker 1>what matters to us. When our plans become too rigid,

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<v Speaker 1>we can miss out on fun and meaning. And as

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<v Speaker 1>for open space, well, the whole point of open space

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<v Speaker 1>is that it is there to be used for cool stuff. Unfortunately,

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<v Speaker 1>when it comes too fun, it is easy to walk

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<v Speaker 1>around with a default story that we are too busy

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<v Speaker 1>for such things. We say yes to all the things

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<v Speaker 1>we think we should do or have to do, but

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<v Speaker 1>then we say no to the stuff that we don't

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<v Speaker 1>have to do but would kind of like to do.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm too busy to go on a vacation. I'm too

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<v Speaker 1>busy to go to that party. I have no time

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<v Speaker 1>to visit my baby Nieza for the weekend. Now, maybe

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<v Speaker 1>these stories make us feel important or hard working, but

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<v Speaker 1>they don't exactly add joy and meaning to our lives.

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<v Speaker 1>So here's an idea. If you really think it will

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<v Speaker 1>be fun, say yes invitations and opperate tunity is abound.

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<v Speaker 1>Maybe it's trying out that jazzer size class that you've

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<v Speaker 1>seen advertised at the y. Maybe it's accepting your son's

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<v Speaker 1>invitation to kick around a soccer ball before dinner. Maybe

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<v Speaker 1>it's answering the phone call from the cousin you haven't

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<v Speaker 1>spoken with in ages. Of course, it's always easier not

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<v Speaker 1>to take opportunities like this, And yes, you are busy,

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<v Speaker 1>You've got a lot going on. But the funny thing

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<v Speaker 1>is if you say yes to things that energize you,

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<v Speaker 1>you will often find yourself with good memories at the

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<v Speaker 1>end of the day and a completed to do list. Somehow,

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<v Speaker 1>the energy and focus we draw from spending our time

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<v Speaker 1>well helps us get things done more easily. If you

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<v Speaker 1>play with your son before dinner, dinner will still get made.

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<v Speaker 1>Nobody has starved yet. Right, Maybe you'll just simplify your

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<v Speaker 1>cooking and that's fine. Wouldn't you rather kick the ball

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<v Speaker 1>with him and just use frozen vegetables and your stir fry.

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<v Speaker 1>If you pick up the phone and have a conversation

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<v Speaker 1>with your cousin, you won't get in that full second

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<v Speaker 1>shift of work, but you will probably still finish the

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<v Speaker 1>project you are planning to complete before bedtime. If you

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<v Speaker 1>leave work earlier than usual one day a week to

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<v Speaker 1>get to jazzer size, you may realize that you can

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<v Speaker 1>get your work done without staying at your desk late

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<v Speaker 1>every night. After all. Now, of course, there are times

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<v Speaker 1>when we are truly operating with limited margin, and there

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<v Speaker 1>are certainly invitations and opportunities that don't give us life.

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<v Speaker 1>Maybe a party you are just not that interested in attending,

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<v Speaker 1>or I get together with a friend who you really

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<v Speaker 1>find draining. I am not suggesting you say yes to everything,

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<v Speaker 1>not by any means, but when you can do, say

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<v Speaker 1>yes to any opportunity that sounds like it might be cool.

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<v Speaker 1>Energy is a funny thing. We tend to renew it

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<v Speaker 1>by doing things that we find well energizing. If you

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<v Speaker 1>have nothing specific that you are looking forward to. Then

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<v Speaker 1>lying on the couch seems like a reasonable option. But

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<v Speaker 1>if a long lost friend calls and says she's in town,

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<v Speaker 1>well see if the sitter can stay an hour later

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<v Speaker 1>and go meet up for a drink. Even if it's

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<v Speaker 1>been a long week, we have a lot of long weeks.

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<v Speaker 1>Seeing friends we haven't seen in years is priceless. In

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<v Speaker 1>the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's

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<v Speaker 1>to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, I'd

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<v Speaker 1>love to hear from you. You can send me your tips,

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<v Speaker 1>your questions, or anything else. Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook,

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<v Speaker 1>and Instagram at Before Breakfast hot that's B the number four,

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<v Speaker 1>then Breakfast p o D. You can also shoot me

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<v Speaker 1>an email at Before Breakfast podcast at iHeartMedia dot com.

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<v Speaker 1>That Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks so much, I look forward to staying in touch.

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<v Speaker 1>Before Breakfast is a production of I Heart Radio. For

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