What might happen if you opened yourself a little more – to new directions, unexpected adventures, or long-held dreams? Discover how saying yes to something can make you feel empowered, excited, or energised.
Novelist Clarice Lispector once wrote: ‘Everything in the world began with a yes. One molecule said yes to another molecule and life was born.’ Saying yes more could help you lean into fresh opportunities and discover previously unknown experiences. But it’s important to make your yeses considered, rather than just agreeing to everything.
‘Step through new doors. The majority of the time there’s something fantastic on the other side’ – Oprah Winfrey
How to move towards the affirmative
Take ownership of your time
Remind yourself that every item on your calendar or diary is something that you’ve said yes to.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, look at your schedule and see if there are things you could say no to instead.
Create space to dream
If you’re not sure what you really want, give yourself the head space to figure it out. Be aware of how you feel when considering your decisions – will this yes light you up?
Look at what’s on the back burner
If you’ve been discounting or denying yourself your dreams for a long time, try taking them off the back burner and giving them room to grow and develop.
What first steps can you take towards making them a reality?
Imagine the possibilities
When weighing up whether to lean into a new experience or opportunity, ask yourself what’s the best thing that could happen if you said yes.
Don’t be afraid to fail
Remind yourself that not everything works out and try not to be disappointed if you attempt something and it doesn’t go according to plan. The more you succeed, fail, and learn, the better you get at saying yes to the things that are right for you.
