"Yes" Changes Everything

I read somewhere once that people tend to avoid new situations or experiences simply because they will make them feel uncomfortable.

For a lot of people, feeling uncomfortable is, well… uncomfortable. There’s a sense of agitation (maybe fear), sweaty palms, fast heartbeat, and a feeling of being unsure. As a result, when faced with the opportunity to do that new thing, they say “no”.

“No, I’m too busy.”

“No, I can’t.”

“No, I’m not ready.”

This allows them to stay where they are.

There’s a saying: If you do what you did, you’ll get what you got. The price of avoiding feeling uncomfortable is staying exactly where you are. Are you happy with where you are and what you’re doing? Do you think that there’s absolutely nothing better out there for you?

When I started taking dancing lessons, I never thought I would perform or participate in dance competitions. My instructors and fellow students asked me to do small things at first. A “low-stress” solo dance at a party… then joining the group Formation team… then doing a formal Showcase dance on a theater stage… and finally participating in dance competitions. At each point, I could have said “No, I’m not ready, I’m not good enough, I don’t want to spend the money, etc, etc.”

I found that everything changes when you say “yes”. I found that the uncomfortable feelings are temporary. After a few times, the nerves settled down to a tolerable level. Now I even manage to think I’m just excited to get out there. I also know that even though people are watching, the vast majority of them really don’t care and don’t remember what you’ve done even a couple of hours later. Each person is by necessity focused in his or her own life. Time moves on, and life moves on for everyone. But saying “yes” changes you on the inside. You become “bigger”, and you can’t go back to where you were.

Of course, I’m not advocating saying “yes” to everything. That’s a sure-fire way to get overwhelmed. However, if there’s something that you know would be good for you, something that would in the end make you happier, DO IT…. say “yes”. The upside is soooooo much greater than the potential downside.

Leave a comment! Are you proud of a time when you said “yes”? Are you contemplating saying “yes” to something you’ve been avoiding for a long time?

Until next time, remember… We are all magnificent.