I wouldn't describe myself as a glass half full kind of girl. It's not that I'm a pessimist; it's just that a pleasant surprise is always better than a let down.
Hold on, that does make me sound like a pessimist, right? But all I am saying is that there is nothing wrong with airing on the side of caution every now and then. For some of us, it's just our natural default.
So with such a cautious nature, it will probably surprise you to learn that I am on a one-way crusade to live a life full of saying yes. You see the best way to combat the question about whether your glass is half full or half empty is to keep filling it right up to the brim at every opportunity you have, so that there really is no question that it's well and truly full.
And you don't have to be Little Miss Positive all of the time to do it. I mean, you could be, but you don't have to be. I am living proof of that.
Just one simple word gets you a long way: YES.
I have to confess that my motivation to welcome "yes" into my life a little more wasn't a self-awakening moment, but the tragic loss of a close friend far too soon. A friend that always lit up the room when she entered, who grasped opportunities with both hands and truly lived the life that she had to the full. That inspired me to do the same with the life I have. To make the conscious effort to say yes more and to try things outside of my (very close fitting) comfort zone.
But I don't want you all to wait for something heartbreaking to prompt you into action.
Because we could all do with saying yes a little bit more every day. Throwing caution to the wind to say yes to something that you'd normally be inclined to say no to because it's too much effort.
You might start by promising yourself that you will try a new recipe every week. Or get yourself booked onto that course that will help with the next step in your career. Perhaps you might join a book club to indulge your passion for reading. Or a simple promise to consciously make more time for your friends, or family, or partner.
All relative baby steps into the realms of the yes, right?
But when you start to say yes there are adventures galore to be had just around the corner. You might chose to say yes to exploring a new place every time you holiday, instead of going back to an old favorite. Or you might take on a physical challenge (this exercise-phobe has proudly completed a triathlon and a half marathon courtesy of the "yes" ethos).
The world really is your oyster.
When you say no too frequently it becomes a habit. But life is always going to be better if your habit is to say yes. You will see more people, experience more things, make more memories.
Everyone's yes motivation is different, and the things that you will chose to say yes to are likely to be different to the things that I will chose. It's not what you say yes to that's important; it's the act of consciously trying to do more.
There are of course sexual, legal and personal boundaries that apply to this "yes" philosophy. And sometimes, we have to say no to some things so that we can have the pennies, time and energy to do the things that we really want to say yes to. But hey, we are all adults and we can work these parameters and limits out for ourselves.
It just takes an open mindset to get us there. Taking the time to think twice before you say no to something, and question why exactly it is that you are opting out. If it is just because you are scared, or you are not quite sure you can be bothered. Surprise yourself. Say yes. You might just find you have the time of your life. Or a lovely experience, at least (don't want to go over-promising from the off).
This yes malarkey does come with a little disclaimer. It gets pretty addictive; plans get bigger and more extreme.
It is now going to be humanly impossible for me to live a life that is long enough to say all of the yeses that I have dreamed of. To see all of the places I want to see, try all of the new things I want to experience, read all of the books I want to read, or walk on all of the beaches I want to feel beneath my feet.
But that's okay! The last three years that I have spent consciously saying yes have been packed so full of unforgettable adventures -- some of which I might not have even contemplated if my glass was merely half empty and I had let the "I don't have the time/money/ability" gremlins creep in.
This world is full of endless possibility, that's the absolute beauty of life. There's inspiration everywhere -- some of it will pass you by, but some of it will change your life. There is always a way where yes is involved. And I am going to have a damn good go at trying to fit in as much as I can from the rest of my yes list.
I encourage you to join me, give it a go -- say yes to one new thing a month. Then, when that starts to feel good, push yourself to do it once a week. Then once a day.
Saying yes is infectious! So, get those positive pants on, go forth and say YES! Let's start a yes revolution!
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