It occurred to me recently how easy it’s become for many of us to just say “No.” Of course, there are lots of good reasons to say “No” – to drugs, to abuse, to bad behavior, to more work when our plate is already overflowing…But increasingly, it seems, “No” has become an automatic response to ideas, experiences, people, and, yes, risks that might actually result in some personal development or other positive outcomes.
“No. We’ve tried that before and it didn’t work.”
“No. Thank you for the invite, but I need to…wash my hair…do laundry…” (You fill in the blank)
“No,” says the hiring manager to HR, “while the candidate has a lot of good qualities, she’s not an exact fit.”
“Risk embarrassing myself at the team karaoke event? NO!”
Shonda Rhimes, creator and producer of several hit television series, discovered the power of saying “Yes” when she committed to doing so for a year to everything that scared her. The result, as described by “Year of Yes” publisher Simon & Schuster, was that “she learned to explore, empower, applaud, and love her truest self.” How cool is that?
Now, I’m not suggesting that you commit to saying “Yes” to everything for a year, a month, or even a week. Well, a week would be good. Let’s start with a week.
What I am suggesting is that you pay attention to how often you’re saying “No” and start turning some of those into “Yes.” Each time you do it, it gets easier. Each time you do it, you open yourself up for new experiences, opportunities and ideas. Fear holds us back from so many wonderful experiences – fear of the unknown, fear of differences, fear of being embarrassed. Say “Yes” to your fears and allow yourself the opportunity to stretch and grow in new directions. That “unknown” you’re worried about may be just what you’ve been waiting for.
What’s holding you back? What are you afraid of? Your assignment is to commit to a week of saying “Yes” to whatever opportunities come your way. Then just keep going…
Till next time,
Karen
