If it's not a yes, it's a no.

There are two type of people in the world.

Person 1: “I can do it all…I just need to work faster, harder, smarter.”
Person 2: “I can’t do it all.”

A couple years ago no one could have convinced me not strive to be person #1. But after this book, meditation (a looooot of meditation), and a couple years of maturation… me & #2 go together. Here’s why…

The Thesis:
If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.
Essentialism is the disciplined pursuit of less, but better.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Non-Essentialist Mindset
   Most of us live reactively. We confuse “busy” with “important.”
   The result: too many commitments, diluted energy, and little progress on what truly matters.

2. The Power of Choice
   You always have a choice, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
   Every yes is a no to something else.
   Freedom begins when you reclaim the ability to choose deliberately.

3. Less, But Better
   Essentialists don’t do more things… they do fewer things with greater impact. They create space to go deeper instead of scattering energy wide. Progress requires elimination, not addition.

4. The Pause
   To know what’s essential, you must stop.
   You need space to think, rest, and reflect. Without pause, you default to noise.

5. Boundaries = Freedom (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
   Saying no isn’t selfish. It’s the highest form of self-respect. Boundaries protect your time, energy, and attention for alignment. (The quote that’s been on my bathroom mirror for over a year: “If it’s not a yes, it’s a no.”)

Final Thoughts: Essentialism isn’t about doing less for the sake of less. It’s about doing less so that you can do what really matters. The disciplined pursuit of what’s essential is what makes life meaningful.

So I’ll leave you with a question: What’s one thing you can stop doing this week so you can give more energy to what truly matters?

Thanks for frolicking with me.
With love,
Diaundra

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