“Find a way to say yes to things. Say yes to invitations to a new country, say yes to meet new friends, say yes to learn something new. Yes is how you get your first job, and your next job, and your spouse, and even your kids. Even if it’s a bit edgy, a bit out of your comfort zone, saying yes means that you will do something new, meet someone new, and make a difference. Yes lets you stand out in a crowd, be the optimist, see the glass full, be the one everyone comes to. Yes is what keeps us all young.”
~Eric Schmidt
Have you ever had the experience of hearing the same thing from multiple sources in a short period of time and realizing you had better listen to the message?
Well that is exactly what happened to me with the message of just say yes!
I heard this wisdom in a Tara Brach lecture encouraging everyone to try a yes meditation. Instead of saying no all the time, lean in and say yes.
Then during yoga the next day, my teacher Marcia Frescura encouraged us to say yes to life using the metaphor of the upgrade.
She started off by talking about how often she says no to upgrading her technology, clicking no thanks or remind me later, until her phone or computer eventually stops working.
She wondered if her reluctance to upgrade (and perhaps others in the room) had to do with not knowing what an upgrade would bring us, worry about what would change after an upgrade or believing that things could be worse as a result of upgrading.
Our unwillingness to say yes to the upgrade keeps us stuck in the cycle of fear. We stop our own growth by not risking saying yes to the things that could enrich our lives. We stay stagnant by buying into the fear and refusing to say yes to the upgrade.
Saying yes encourages us to develop more confidence and belief in ourselves and nurtures our growth and potential.
So I invite you to open to the infinite possibilities of your life by just saying yes! Think of one thing you can say yes to today, one thing that will contribute to your growth and potential, and go for it! Liberate yourself from your fear and just say yes.
Now of course there are appropriate times to say no and set boundaries. You must honor your intuition and respect those times.
But I hope you will see this as an opportunity to stretch in those areas where saying no has limited you, not protected you and find a way past your fear into the YES! Each time you say yes will be an act of self-nurturing.
And as Richard Branson pointed out “I have enjoyed life a lot more by saying yes than by saying no,” and without a doubt your next yes could lead to an amazing experience filled with so much joy!
I am committed to listening to the message to say yes as well and can’t wait to see what remarkable experiences unfold as a result.
May you embrace opportunities to say yes and may you nurture peace in the world from the inside out!
Sending you so much peace, love and gratitude,
Kelley Grimes, M.S.W.
Counselor, Author & Speaker
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I love this. The very simple reminder I use? “Try stuff.” Thanks.
Thank you Andrea! Your “try stuff” is great because it requires that you say yes and stay open to the possibilities. Great reminder to give ourselves. I really appreciate your comment!
I love this lean into yes. So important to say yes as my oracle Yes card says- say yes to love, to life and to you !xxx
When I read your blog this week Suzie I noticed so many similarities in our message – say yes to love, to life, to you! Thank you so much for your comment and spreading this self-nurturing message!
Fear is such a driving force, that and taking the path of least resistance! I will try to say YES, too!
Josephine you are so right fear is such a powerful force and so I love the idea of saying “yes” and walking straight through it! I find the more I face my fear the less I avoid it and take the path of least resistance. I hope your experience of saying yes will inspire and nurture you! I really appreciate your comment!
I think we should all get t-shirts that say, “Just Say Yes!”
I love your idea Barb! Just like Nike’s “Just Do It” it is just the encouragement we could all use! Thank you so much for your comment!
TY Kelley – So true! A “yes” will always open a door. A “no” never will. Something to remember every day!
I love thinking about all the doors of possibility we can open with a yes and how the ripples are endless! I so appreciate your comment Susan!
Love this post Kelley. I find when I say YES to life, life says YES to me. It’s a practice I highly recommend! 🙂
I love that life says YES to you Debra and that it is one of your self-nurturing practices! Thank you so much for sharing!
Kelley, this is SO timely! Just yesterday I told my spouse that I was trying to say “yes” more. I love the metaphor about upgrading technology and why we sometimes procrastinate. Yes to yes!
I love the synchronicity Sheila and saying yes to yes! Every time my computer or phone prompts me about upgrading, I assess the bigger message about change and growth in my life currently and use that as another opportunity to lean in and say yes! Even when the process is messy at first, change has always led to learning and growth for which I am so grateful! Thank you for your comment!
Have you ever had the experience of hearing the same thing from multiple sources in a short period of time and realizing you had better listen to the message?
Oh my goodness YES!
A good friend of mine taught me to really listen up when I hear the same thing from 3 different sources. It usually happens within a time frame of 7 to 10 days.
Our higher self communicating. Pure magic!!
Thank you for this wonderful blog post and reminder Kelley ❤️
I love your self-nurturing practice of really listening when you hear your higher self communicating through 3 different sources! What lovely wisdom your friend shared with you! Thank you so much for your kind words!
Wow, Kelley, I love it. I know just what that feels like, every Yes is a leap into possibility; every No a slammed door.
Thanks. Will share.
I love your comment that every Yes is a leap into possibility. One of the nonprofits that I work for is called Leap to Success where we educate and empower women overcoming domestic violence, homelessness and other major life challenges to reach their greatest potential through personal and leadership development. I watch women leap every day into a reclaimed belief in themselves filled with confidence, courage and strength and it all begins with a yes! Thank you so much for your comment Sue!