03 Oct The Power of the Yes
“Say yes and you’ll figure it out afterwards.” – Tina Fey
Have you ever passed up an opportunity only to feel regret later on? For most of us, the answer is yes. We let fear or other obstacles stand in our way and give a “no” answer to an amazing opportunity. Days or even years later, we still feel the sting of regret wondering what might have been if only we had said yes instead.
Unlocking the power of the “yes” is more than simply saying yes to everything that comes your way. There are opportunities that you should say no to – ones that do not fit into your life or make advancements toward your goals. Understanding the power behind the little word that is “yes” means that you learn what you want in life and have the courage to say yes to it when it comes your way.
In our social media filled world, it can be easy to feel a sense of missing out or FOMO. However, social media also shows us a wide array of possibilities we may not have found otherwise. From taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to changing career paths later in life, there are so many examples of people saying yes to challenges without letting fear get in their way.
We are all afraid of something.
You may be the sole provider for your family, or you feel the weight of expectations resting on your shoulders. Maybe you have experienced failure before and you know the heartache it brings. Whatever your situation, it is important to understand that we all fear something.
When we say yes to opportunities and take chances, we acknowledge our fears but choose to push past them. We fulfill our ambitions and passions by following our gut instead of letting the risk of the unknown stop us. The first step in realizing the power of the “yes” is to understand that fear is real, but it does not have to stand in your way.
Saying yes can work wonders in your life.
“No” typically comes from a place of fear. From a young age, we are scolded with a sharp “no” anytime we reach for the stove or pull on the dog’s tail. As we age, we may hear a “no” at school when we behave out of line or from our parents if we try something dangerous. Those “no” responses are necessary because they keep us safe as we grow and mature. However, they instill in us an instinct to say “no” when faced with something scary.
As humans, we have held on to survival instincts that once served us well. Traits like shyness once kept people safe from outside threats and helped the human race thrive for centuries. But we live in a different world, and those instincts can block good vibes and opportunities from coming your way. While letting go of our habits and instincts is not easy, it can benefit us greatly in the long run.
There are countless success stories to demonstrate the power of yes.
Many leaders and successful individuals attribute their success to saying “yes” to new and scary opportunities. Richard Branson, Tina Fey, and Shonda Rhimes are just three of many notable examples that demonstrate the amazing things you can accomplish when you push past your fears and take on a new challenge.
Richard Branson started out as the son of a flight attendant. Today, he lives on a luxury island, owns Virgin Airlines, and is worth more than four billion dollars. He has a couple of notable quotes about saying yes. He was once quoted as saying, “My biggest weakness in life is that I can’t say no.” He also credits his success to saying yes.
“Even if I have no idea where I’m going or how to get there, I prefer to say yes, instead of no,” he wrote in a blog post on his website. “Opportunity favours the bold.”
Tina Fey, world famous comedian, writer, and actress, has a similar outlook on life. “Say yes and you’ll figure it out afterwards,” she advises. She learned this strategy from her days in improv at Second City improvisational acting school in Chicago. Today, saying yes is a mainstay in both her personal and professional life.
“When I meet someone whose first instinct is ‘No, how can we do that. That doesn’t seem possible,’ I’m always kind of taken aback,” she said in an interview for Oprah’s website. “Even if you abandon one idea for another one, saying yes allows you to move forward.”
Shonda Rhimes grew up as the youngest of six siblings in suburban Illinois. She wrote screenplays for several years and found immense success in TV, writing and creating Grey’s Anatomy. Today, she is a Golden Globe winner and owns her own production company called Shondaland.
Despite her incredible successes, she still felt held back by fear. In 2016, she released her inspiring memoir, Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand In the Sun, and Be Your Own Person. She recounts how she overcame her crippling social anxiety and self-doubt due to her weight. By committing to saying “yes” to new opportunities for a year, she was able to find her voice, live a healthier life, and navigate difficult conversations.
How can you benefit from saying yes?
Whether you start by wearing a graphic tee with a positive message or writing an inspiring quote in your daily planner, there are countless benefits to saying yes by just taking a small step. Ammar Kandil started his YouTube channel, Yes Theory, with the goal of seeking discomfort and fighting depression, and he had no idea of the success it would bring.
Kandil has experienced considerable hardships in his life. He became disconnected from his family at a young age and made it through college with little to his name. There, he met the future co-founders of Yes Theory. The three men decided that breaking out of their comfort zones would have unimaginable benefits and started a YouTube channel to encourage others to do the same. Today, they have a wildly successful channel that features celebrities like Will Smith and shares the power of yes with millions of viewers.
There is a reason you want to say yes.
One of the biggest benefits to saying yes is removing the possibility of regret. More often than not, we regret the things we never tried more than the things we did. If there is something inside you that is driving you to say yes, it is important to listen. A “no” answer may be the easier option now, but will it satisfy you in the long run? That little voice that is saying yes now will only get louder.
You are not alone.
Taking a leap or trying something new can be scary because we feel like we are on our own. It is like walking out on a tightrope high above the city. Who will catch us if we fall? Saying yes gives you the immense benefit of learning who is there for you. You likely have supporters and cheerleaders waiting in the wings to help you toward your goal. Say yes, and you will be surprised who is standing beside you on your journey.
You have no idea what will happen.
The unknown is both terrifying and exciting. You may not know the consequences of saying yes, but you also do not know the possibilities that will be opened to you. Saying yes can bring experiences into your life that you never thought possible. The only way to know for sure is to try.
You will either win or learn.
Removing the idea of “losing” from your vocabulary is important to unlocking the benefits of saying yes. Every time you say yes will not be a complete success. In fact, you are almost guaranteed to fail at some point in life. However, failure is not a loss. You should view failure as a chance to learn, grow, and move forward.
Failure may seem like a bad thing at the time. It can leave you with heartache and more obstacles to face. But failure is an opportunity for growth. By experiencing a setback, big or small, you add tools to your toolkit to better prepare you for the next opportunity. Even if the experience is not one you want to repeat, it is not a total loss. The power of yes means you will be better prepared for the next challenge that comes your way.
You spread good vibes.
If you walk into a room full of people with sour looks on their faces and only one person smiling, you will probably gravitate toward the one, happy person. Humans seek out affirmation, positivity, and overall good vibes. Being the person in the room who says yes will draw more positive people to you or encourage and motivate someone else. Even doing something as simple as wearing positive message t-shirts can help you stand out from the crowd.
You can unlock your creativity.
Saying yes causes you to think outside of the box. When faced with new challenges, we have to create new solutions and use parts of our brain we may not have had to access before. When you say yes and break outside of your comfort zone, you can exercise your creativity and come up with innovative ideas that you may not have thought of before.
You will become a better leader.
Leaders who say yes are more respected and liked by their subordinates. Instead of standing in the way of other people’s goals, you can help them accomplish their dreams and drive their passions forward. Saying yes as a leader causes you to think from a selfless point of view and work for the betterment of the group.
You will also set a powerful example for your team. Do you want them to be fearful of every decision or hold back at work because they are scared? Of course not! You want your employees to feel confident in their abilities and empowered to make improvements. Being a leader that takes chances can go a long way with those around you.
You will feel better.
Have you ever stressed over a decision, losing sleep as you weigh your options? Remember the feeling that came with finally making a choice. You were likely relieved to have the decision-making process behind you, and the actual path forward was of little consequence.
We often cause ourselves unnecessary stress and anxiety over making decisions. This stress can impact our health, both physically and mentally. Making a point in your life to say “yes” when possible removes this decision-making process from your life. You already know how you will respond, and you can focus on moving forward.
Are you ready to unlock the power of the yes?
You don’t have to start saying yes to jumping off a cliff. Instead, think of small areas in your life that you can change your standard “no” to a “yes.” Is there something that you’ve always wanted to do or try, but you’ve let fear hold you back? Try saying yes instead and working towards that goal.
You should also say yes to understanding yourself better and figuring out what you want in life. The power of yes does not lie in the ability to say yes to everything, no matter the circumstances. The real power comes from saying yes to things that will move you forward, align with your goals, and improve your life. To recognize those situations, you first have to prioritize your goals. Write them down, say them out loud, and share them with a friend. Then, start saying yes to making them happen.
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