I have been reflecting over the past couple of months about the significant change that has swept through my life. Giant waves have coursed through my life and sometimes I’ve been able to keep my feet, other times I’ve had to get up again, spitting sand out of my mouth.
I have examined the debris left by these changes and realised that far from being a total disaster, change has enriched my life in many ways. I wondered why my life should be turned upside down in the space of two years and I believe there is one very simple way change entered my life.
Yes.
That’s it. Having the gumption to say ‘yes’ when my brain was screaming ‘NOOOOO!!!’ allowed change to happen in my life.
I frequently say yes when I really should say no, but in the past I’ve said yes when I knew I could do it. However, that is the safe thing and change doesn’t enter your life if you stay safe. Over the last couple of years I have said yes to things I didn’t know for certain I could do. Let me give you two examples.
I joined Toastmasters International in April 2009 because I was going mad in my house and I wanted to meet people who were talking about something other than babies. By June the committee had asked me to take on the Vice President Education role. In that role I would be assigning meeting roles to members for each meeting, helping members reach their personal goals for speaking and leadership, mentoring new members among other duties. I took on this significant leadership position for a club of about 50 members having only been a member myself for two months.
I joined a ladies barbershop chorus in April 2010. I was content to be an ordinary member but at the annual general meeting in January of 2011 no-one volunteered to take the role of Chairman. The incumbent had already served two years and was adamant that someone else should take over. When no-one would the look of consuming disappointment on her face pierced me and during the break I went up to the committee and said if no-one would take the role I would do it. A year later I have served half of my first term as chairman and have discovered leadership skills and personal qualities I never knew I had.
Yes can be scary because there’s always a chance it will expose what you can’t do. However, yes reveals abilities and qualities you never dreamed you had. I didn’t say yes because I thought I could do it by myself. Quite the opposite – I knew for certain I could never do those roles on my own. I said yes because I knew there were people around me who were willing to help me succeed.
Reflecting on these things has helped me realise I’m more than I thought I was. There is a grand adventure waiting for you in that short, sweet word YES so grab it with both hands!
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Post by Vanessa King
Website: https://vanessaking.wordpress.com/
Yes. I did a similar thing years ago. I had a habit of saying no in order to stay away from the unknown and avoid the stress that it could cause but one day I decided I was just going to say yes to the unknown which actually meant yes to opportunity and things got better. Not that things weren’t good already but things got better and I was happy with my choices. I wonder though, if perhaps I have slipped back into my old habits. These next few months will tell I suppose as I start a new life in a new city.
Hi Alan, love your comment! Yes to the unknown is often more wise than yes to the ‘known’. The unknown offers nothing new and exciting.