Saying "Yes"

We've all been there: someone has approached you with a task / assignment / opportunity; it's something that makes you gulp or hold your breath. It's something that you'd be happy to say "no" to and continue on in your comfortable little bubble. It doesn't do any harm saying "no" - in fact, there is probably a list of people you could name that would do an amazing job. Deep down though, there's probably a part of you that wants to say "yes". There's a tiny itch to do something new, or your creative muscles are yearning to be stretched, so you let go of the breath you've been holding in and say "okay". It's not quite the "yes" that you imagined yourself saying when you played the situation out in your head, but it's a step in that direction.

I am someone who likes to be confident in a task before I begin. I like guarantees that everything is going to work out, but life just isn't like that.

Recently I have found myself saying "yes" to new opportunities and challenges. It hasn't been the easiest thing. There's the fear of rejection and the punch to the gut of the inner voice whispering "you're not good enough" - it's a voice that gets louder the longer you allow yourself to listen to it. Saying "yes" has even kept me up at night, worrying about what could go wrong. It's caused conversations with My Handsome Man where I panic and he lovingly reassures.

Some of the tasks are over and I'm so grateful I had the courage to say "yes". I have gained so much from the experience, whether that's confidence (in what?), an increase in skill or a new skill altogether. Other tasks are just beginning and I'm still not sure that saying "yes" was the brightest idea.

I keep telling myself that stepping out of our comfort zones is how we grow. Saying "yes" and fighting through the walls of our comfort zone is totally a good thing. If we didn't, we'd never do anything new.

If we hadn't said "yes" to new opportunities, we certainly wouldn't be in Vancouver right now and I wouldn't be on the Project Life Creative Team for 2016.

My goal is to say "yes" to new adventures and embrace them with enthusiasm, instead of mumbling an uncertain "okay".