Saying no isn't a waste of opportunity

Merriam Webster defines opportunity as a chance for greater success. And yes, I do agree with that. Opportunities are present for us to do more and to achieve more. That was probably the reason why most of us have the mindset to grab every opportunity that will come to our life.

But there will come a time that we will be torn between grabbing and not grabbing an opportunity. Of course, when another opportunity opens, the first reaction should is that it's a blessing and we shouldn't think twice about getting it.

However, I also do believe that the mindset to grab every opportunity is not applicable every time. We will always reach some certain point wherein we have to say no and to decline to an opportunity, and it's completely okay.

Today, I just want us to focus on this thing, "Saying no isn't a waste of opportunity."

To make this more realistic, I have this very application to share to all of you.

Actually, most of my friends already know this and I have already shared it to my noise.cash account but here's how it goes.

Few weeks ago, a senior of mine messaged me and asked me to run as the Vice Governor for the student council. I asked her why and she said that she's seeing potential in me. Of course that's flattering, I almost said yes instantly but at that time, I am really busy with the student organization that I am part of. Also, I'm already a block president so I already have some responsibility and I'm also not sure if I can still handle another responsibility.

But since the offer is nice and it's really a nice training ground for me, I didn't decline right away. I'm 50-50 on my decision. I asked around about what to do and I am thankful about the support from the people around me.

I did weight the pros and cons if ever that I will agree and I decided that if ever that I'll win, I'll just give up my position as the block president to lessen the responsibility. Sounds like a nice plan but still, I am undecided at that time.

2 days after, I am being asked about my decision and I end up saying no. That was such a relief for me. That is also the first time that I said no and I'm not regretting my decision.

It was a nice offer but I just think that if I push through with it, the responsibilities will be too heavy for me for I also have some responsibilities at home.

Here's another real life example I can give to you.

Few nights ago, I received a message from @Maestro02. He's an incoming freshman student at my university. I asked him why and he told me that his block mates voted for him to be the block president.

He's also having trouble between saying yes or no and he asked about my opinion about some responsibilities of a block president since I am one myself.

We had a nice conversation and in the end, I advised him that it's okay to say no if he think he can't handle it. That was also the time when I realized that saying no isn't a wasted opportunity. No, by declining an offer we are not wasting opportunity.

Based on the examples I have said, I have this one realization that yes, opportunities are nice but we should also know when to grab them and when to decline them.

First, as to what it means, opportunities should be a chance for greater success. I have looked for its other meaning and it says that opportunity is a favorable situation for a positive outcome. So we should only grab opportunities that is favorable for us and would give us positive outcome.

Second, we should not grab opportunity if we think it's outcome won't be positive for us. Opportunities aren't to be grab if it won't make us greater.

Now, for the assessment, I was thinking, if I have accepted the offer to run for the student council and if ever that I'll win. I'll have more responsibilities and for that, I have to sacrifice the time for myself. I'll have lesser time for my other tasks and that can result for my poor performance academically. Yes, it was a nice offer but I already have too much on my plate and I'm glad I realized that I'll be the one to suffer if I get too much on what I can chew.

So yeah, I started writing this having a clear point but I just reached the point where I forgot what I have to say. LOL. I don't know if I'm still making any sense but to wrap it up, let me repeat this phrase that "no, it's not a wasted opportunity."

Let's be smart between choosing between things. Think through every decision and accept the fact that not every opportunity is should be grab since not every opportunity is good for us.

Be careful on your every decisions and always weight out the pros and cons before actually deciding on a certain matter. And if ever that you'll come up with a decision of saying no, for the nth time, it's okay.

You can say no, you can decline an offer. You might feel like you're wasting an opportunity but no, you're not. Just walk a little but further and there awaits another door of opportunity that is waiting for you. And maybe that time, it's the right one, the exact opportunity that we should grab.

Hey there folks! Thanks for reading this far and I hope I made some sense to you and I also hope that I also reach the right audience that is in need of some words in this article.

I appreciate you being here. Take care! :)

No. 117, Published: 12, August 2021