Saying No to Protect Your Creative Energy
Oct 21, 2026
Have you ever imagined what might be possible if you really gave yourself permission to go after your BIG dreams?
Think about that for a sec....
Like.... what if your voice could reach more people? You booked more gigs, auditioned for opportunities that excited you, or finally created that concert or project you’ve been thinking about doing but dragging your feet on?
Now, what if the thing standing in your way isn’t a lack of talent, ambition, or even hard work?
What if you’re simply giving too much of your energy away?
If you’re like me, it’s easy to get caught up in saying yes. 😏 Yes to helping someone else. Yes to another commitment. Yes to a project you really don’t have time for.
And those yeses come from a good place.
We want to be helpful. We don’t want to disappoint anyone. We want to be seen as reliable and hardworking.
But if we’re always making room for everyone else, where does that leave our dreams?
If you’re a people-pleaser or a bit of a hyper-achiever (hello there, fellow overachievers!), you might believe that if you just work hard enough, do enough, and say yes to enough opportunities, eventually you’ll feel like you’ve done enough.
Except the goalposts have a funny way of moving.
And meanwhile, you might find yourself putting off your own practice, or having no energy left for the creative work that lights you up.
Sometimes the answer isn’t to try harder.
It’s to protect your energy so you have something left to give to the things that matter most to you.
Your creative dreams need room to grow.
One of my favorite children's books is What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada.
In the story, an idea appears as a little egg with legs that follows the main character around.
At first, he doesn't know what to do with it.
He’s scared what others will think of his idea.
He tries to ignore it.
But as he gives the idea attention and care, it grows into something really special and wonderful.
I love this image because our creative dreams need that kind of care, too.
They need our attention, curiosity, experimentation, and energy.
They need space. And boundaries.
And sometimes, creating that space means saying no.
Before you agree to your next commitment, try asking yourself these three questions:
- Do I actually want to do this? Not just, “Should I?” or “Will someone be disappointed if I don't?”
- What will this yes cost me? Think about your time, energy, attention, rest, and creative space.
- Does this support the singer and person I'm trying to become?
You don't have to say no to everything. And saying yes to something you genuinely care about can be wonderful!
The point is to make your choices intentionally, rather than automatically.
And if you tend to say yes before you've even had a chance to think, here's a little phrase to practice:
“I need to check my schedule and get back to you.”
That’s right. You don't owe anyone an immediate answer. Give yourself time to decide whether that yes is really a yes.
And here’s a biggie: someone else's disappointment doesn't have to dictate your choices.
Your creative energy matters, too.
So, what's one thing you could say no to this week to make a little more room for your own voice, your own practice, or a dream you've been putting off?
You don't have to make a huge change. Even a little pocket of protected time can be a beautiful place to start.
And speaking of making room for your voice…
I'm putting together something fun for early November 2026, a 7 day singing challenge to help bring a little more intention and joy to your practice, and make space for you and your voice (and your dreams!). More on that soon! ☺️
In the meantime, if you'd like a little inspiration for protecting your creative energy, you can listen to the latest episode of The Joyful Singer Podcast: “Saying No to Protect Your Creative Energy.”
Here's to protecting the things that matter to you!! 🥂 And giving those big, beautiful dreams of yours a little room to grow.
