[This post is part of a series on internal objections and blocks and how to overcome them. If you don’t see a Table of Contents to the left, click here to view the series, where you’ll get more value than reading just this post.]

Objection

Some people want to take on new projects or change something in their lives but they have too many other things.

I’m too busy.

I have too many other priorities.

For this obstacle, I’ll mention that your other priorities may be more important. Only you know.

Example

Examples are too numerous to mention. We all have things in our lives — work, friends, family, hobbies, etc — that take time, energy, attention, connections, and other resources.

If you aren’t completely bored all the time, any change affects other things, meaning you have to figure out how to reallocate resources.

Underlying belief

The underlying belief to this obstacle is that other things are more important. As I mentioned above, only you know if you value the new thing or something old more.

Alternative belief

If your priorities allow the new thing, I recommend believing

My priorities are my priorities and I work on them in the order appropriate to me.

and these words I say to myself almost daily

You have to say no to a lot of good things to have a great life.

If you don’t know your priorities, I recommend believing

I better know priorities if I want to figure out how to live my life.

Alternative strategy

Know what’s important to you and work on them in the priority you choose.

Once you choose to do one project over another, enjoy it to the fullest. If you let go of something else, let it rest and use the freed resources for the new thing. Of course, keep in mind you could have made a mistake and changes since the decision could suggest revisiting the decision, but I find such changes rare.

• ← Common objection 8: But it’s embarrassing or it makes me anxious
• Common objection 10: I’m good at something else →