Opt-out of something today.
There is liberation in opting out. It helps turn down the volume of noise in our lives.
In some cases by opting-out you can create room in your life for more good things.
What would be helpful for you to reduce?
- Hours watching television?
- Hours reading news articles?
- Bags of Doritos in your pantry?
- Email notifications from Social Media channels?
- Social obligations?
- More sleep?
- More time with your family without smartphones present?
- More time exercising?
I Opted-Out
I cancelled email subscriptions to newsletters (noise) that I never read.
And I turned off all email notifications on my phone You have mail.
I cancelled a credit card that never gets used.
Although subtle, these tiny reductions will help provide more clean moments in a day to focus on the things I really care about.
But what if I might need it?
I find that each time I go to Opt-Out I hear “but what if you will need it or what will they think?”
Where is that voice of self-preservation coming from?
Should I yield to its cautions?
Seth Godin calls it your Lizard Brain. Watch his video.
My Lizard Brain is trying to stop me
I often choose not to initially embrace a particular position that seems extreme.
So instead of cracking the book on the Four Hour Work Week, I stare at it on my shelf in disagreement.
I assume that I will never be able to work only four hours per week, so why waste time reading about some delusional millionaire who tries to convince me it’s possible (Tim Ferris-Listen to a great interview)?
Then, the Lizard Brain quiets and I begin indulging the part of me that wants to be freer.
Provocative examples
- What if all of your food did not come from a grocery store? Opt Out En Masse
- What if you only checked email once per day? Four Hour Work Week-Tim Ferriss
- Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Reduce-Patagonia’s philosophy on clothing
Opt Out of something today.
What is it going to be for you?
