The Power of Saying Yes To Your Life

The Power of Saying Yes To Your Life

Do you sometimes feel that you are stuck in a rut? Maybe negativity has crept into your psyche and you have become a little fearful of pushing yourself outside your normal range of activities and experiences. Life has become a little dreary, maybe a bit boring and the days have drifted into a same-old-same-old pattern.

How easy is it to say ‘no’ to invitations? I think sometimes that it can be quite difficult to say no to the invitations that come our way. We feel guilty, and therefore sign up for things that we really don’t want to do.

It sneaks up on you like a cat burglar. Chase it out of your head like a crazy homeowner with a bat – there’s nothing good that comes from letting thieves into your house. Self doubt is not your reality – it’s your fear.
Colleen Ferrary Bader

But, when it comes to saying ‘yes’ to our own invitations…the ideas that float around our heads, our aspirations, our desires, we mostly seem to have no difficulty in refusing the invitation!

Sounds a bit backwards, don’t you think?

Choose Experiences Rather Than Things

Research has shown that we improve our happiness when we choose experiences over buying things. But let’s be honest here, our culture would definitely have us believe the opposite is true! If only I had that new car, that new sofa or that new kitchen I would be so much happier!

It’s true of course that the things we buy bring us pleasure, but, that pleasure is short-lived when compared to happy experiences. And the best thing is that these experiences need not be expensive!

You can

~> Enjoy meeting up with friends for a meal or a drink (or invite them over!)
~> Take a trip to the beach and enjoy the sunshine or the bracing cold
~> Help a local charity with tree planting, dog walking, preparing a hot meal for the homeless
~> Take pride in a job well done – clean your guttering or windows, paint your shed, repair a treasured item.

Whatever you choose to do (experience), the importance is in breaking your usual routine and doing something different. That can be big or small, but whatever it is, you will be saying yes to loving (I had intended writing ‘living’ there, but predictive changed it to ‘loving’…which seems more apt, I think!) your life 😉 .

Broaden Your Horizons

Choosing to prioritise the experiences you want to indulge in will, naturally, broaden your horizons.

How often have you been chatting to someone and their view of the world seems outdated or restricted because they haven’t put themselves ‘out there’ to try new things now and then?

When you try to encourage them to step out of their comfort zone by travelling or taking the class or trying the new food, they’re reluctant and have lots of reasons why their opinion is accurate and doing the ‘new’ thing isn’t worth it.

This is why the power of saying yes to your life can, and will, broaden your horizons. Consider how this conversation may be a reflection of your own life and where you should be prepared to take a step into the unknown. You will give yourself the gift of knowledge and experience.

See It for Yourself!

Or feel it, or taste it or hear it or smell it! Why do anything by proxy? The whole world of experiences is out there for you to make your choices.  So why live through someone else’s experience, either by watching tv or admiring others achievements?  It doesn’t quite hit the mark!

So, where can you use the power of saying yes and lift up an area of your life? What would you like to eat? Are there particular flowers you want in your garden or a particular fragrance you want to wear?

What sights do you want to see?

I was watching a video by Tim Ferriss yesterday and he expressed how awesome it was to see real, moving molten lava. I’ve always wanted to see a volcano (it’s #19 on my bucket list), so I know this is something that I will be pursuing as a future yes!

Hearing Tim’s account is great, but I want to see it with my own eyes!

Become More Interesting

Powering up your ‘yes’ muscle is going to make you infinitely more interesting! The more experiences you are willing to open yourself up to, the further you are willing to venture outside your comfort zone and the more you are willing to try new things, the more you will have to share with others.

The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.
Joseph Campbell

Ok, there’s a chance that some people may find that new found interest off-putting, but, there are going to be far more people who find your new adventurous spirit inspiring.

Strengthen Relationships

Don’t hold yourself back. When you’re ready to create and enjoy new experiences, be ready to involve others and you will also create and strengthen relationships.

As you see more of the people you love, spend time with them and share experiences, it’s inevitable that you will strengthen your relationships at the same time.

There’s also the added benefit that linking in with a group of like-minded people will help to propel you into experiences that you might not otherwise have been willing to try.

There’s power in groups and shared experiences. Consider this quote from Jenny Downham:

Number two on my list is simple. I must say yes to everything for one whole day. Whatever it is and whoever asks it of me.

This would be a fun challenge for the year ahead, especially if you were to try it with a group of friends!

Start The Year By Saying Yes To Your Life!

So as we approach the end of the year, and the glimmer of a fresh exciting new year starts to break the horizon, take some time to think about where you may be shutting down areas of your life through fear of the unknown.

This traditional time of reflection brings with it the added bonus of other people generally being supportive of proposed changes (even if they think you won’t stick with it!), which takes away some of the fear of wondering what others will think (not that it really matters).

Always say ‘yes’ to the present moment… Surrender to what is. Say ‘yes’ to life – and see how life starts suddenly to start working for you rather than against you.
Eckhart Tolle

Be brave. Open your mind and your heart to the possibility of new experiences, of pushing the boundaries beyond your current comfort zone and making the changes that you know you are eager to make.  You never know where the power of saying yes might just take you!