I have been realizing lately in my life that I say “No” more often than I say “Yes.”

Fear and Protection

I think my tendency to say no has a lot to do with fear. I want to protect myself. I want to stay safe. I don’t want to get hurt. Although this tendency protects me, saying no also has its downsides. I miss out on new experiences. I lose out on learning opportunities. I don’t grow as much.

In his book Love Does, Bob Goff talks about a change he made in his life that involved saying yes to everything. He even tells a funny story about how this shift led him to accept a position as consul to Uganda.

In 2019, I want to do the same thing. I want to be more open to new experiences and opportunities. I want to grow. I want to learn. I want to push myself past my fear. I want to say yes to life. 

Discussion

In your life, do you have more of a tendency to say no or say yes? What would it look like for you to say yes more often in your life?