Obligations compound until they quietly steal your standards. This episode teaches a short, practical audit you can run in the morning to identify one recurring commitment to cut—no drama, no moralizing—so you reclaim time, energy, and the ability to keep the things that matter. James explains simple selection rules (low-stakes, reversible, misaligned with your core roles), a three-question risk test to ensure you’re not abandoning responsibility, and two calm scripts to decline the obligation with dignity. You get a five-minute micro-audit you can do today, a 7-day micro-trial to test the effect of the cut, and one reflective question to reveal whether the change strengthened your standards. Focused on stewardship rather than avoidance, the Quiet Cut is a low-ego, immediately actionable way to protect what you’ve decided matters—so your standards aren’t negotiated away by default.