One thing that the Stoics are known for is saying ‘no’ to the the things that don not matter to us. It is a hard but very important thing to do.
Seneca tells us via On the brevity of life about people who “have laid waste to your life when you weren’t aware of what you were losing, how much was wasted in pointless grief, foolish joy, greedy desire, and social amusements – how little of your own was left to you.” [3.3b]
So what does saying ‘no’ do? It allows us to say ‘yes’ to the things that really matter to let us live and enjoy life, and live the life that we want to live.