Essentialism starts as an identity shift. The nonessentialist says yes by default, then pays for it later in stress, shallow output, and resentment. The essentialist treats “yes” as expensive and chooses deliberately.
The difference is not effort. It’s direction. When energy is divided across dozens of priorities, progress becomes microscopic. When energy is concentrated, the same effort produces visible movement. The book argues that most people are not underused—they are misused, spread thin over work that doesn’t justify its cost.
This chapter anchors a hard rule: life will be prioritized either by you or by whoever makes the loudest demand. Essentialism is choosing to live by design rather than drift—and letting “less but better” become the standard you defend.