A few years ago, I was talking to one of my older coworkers. She committed over 40 years to the company and raised a beautiful daughter who is an executive at a major tech company.
With her daughter’s success came the opportunity to travel around the world. While I was there, she has traveled to the Caribbean, two countries in Europe and a trip to Japan. She was having the time of her life.
When we first talked, she was resistant to her daughter’s invitation to go to Europe. I looked her square in the eyes and said, “You need to say yes to that trip. You need to take in these wonderful blessings and experiences that are being bestowed upon you.” She finally agreed.
Upon her return, she could not stop talking about how amazing the trip was and how it totally wiped away her preconceived notions of what London would be like. The photos really showed her excitement and enjoyment.
This all goes to show that you need to say yes more than you say no. Saying yes:
1. Opens the door of opportunity and success
Someone may see potential in you that you may not see in yourself and provide the opportunity to build skills that you never knew you had. You may discover interest in things that you never thought reachable or possible. By saying yes to opportunities and not being restricted by the thought that you cannot, or you won’t, you allow yourself to grow in unimaginable ways.
2. Allows blessings to come through
Religious or not, I think people tend to believe that occurrences in life are not just mere coincidence. I went to a career fair and stood in line for a company that I never considered working for. When I was about three people away from the front, I was tempted to get off. I stayed, gave my resume and weeks later, I was called in for an interview. Turned out to be the best opportunity. I make my own schedule, and I get paid well. As a mom of toddlers, it worked out perfectly. The universe gave me what I needed and not what I wanted.
3. Opens the doorway to living your best life
Who doesn’t want to live their best life? By saying yes, you are helping create a more rich and vibrant life; a life of adventure and excitement. A life of kinship with people who matter the most.
4. You attract positivity and fun
People who say yes more than no tend to to be optimist. They tend to see life from a glass half full perspective. Such a positive attitude tends to attract more positivity. It tends to draw in the right people who tend to bring in fun and excitement.
Google executive Eric Schmidt said, “Find a way to say yes to things. Say yes to invitations to a new country, say yes to meet new friends, say yes to learn something new. Yes is how you get your first job, and your next job, and your spouse, and even your kids. Even if it's a bit edgy, a bit out of your comfort zone, saying yes means that you will do something new, meet someone new, and make a difference. Yes lets you stand out in a crowd, be the optimist, see the glass full, be the one everyone comes to. Yes is what keeps us all young.”
(Photos from Free by Wix)