should vs big wild yeses

What do you want to say yes to?

Not just any YES - a big wild YES. And what is a big wild yes you may ask?

It’s what one of my clients calls a full body yes. Where you’re super excited, perhaps even a little scared, and despite any fear, you know you want it with your whole being.

If you’re like me, you’ve said yes to things you didn’t actually want. I spent most of my lifetime saying a lot of ‘should yeses’ - when you agree to something because you think you should, not because you want to or it works for your life.

Here are some things I have given a ‘should yes’ to over the years:

Working late and missing dinner with my family

Laughing at inappropriate jokes so I would belong in a team

Silently smiling while a big name client made passes at me

Taking redeye flights to ‘seal the deal’ first thing in the morning 

Staying in a job that was sucking the soul out of me

Having ‘one more drink’ because that meant I really cared about something

I don’t beat myself up for these. I did the best I could with what I had at the time. As did you. If I could go back in time I would say NO a lot more, and stand up for myself.

 Something I love about mindfulness is that clarity that comes when I simply sit in my thoughts, not judging. I look back at these wannabe yeses and I get clearer about my big wild yeses.

What are my big wild yeses?

I want to say YES to…

Health - feeling calm, clean and strong

Work - clients who are committed to thriving, we share a mutual love and respect 

Family - being present with the people I love

Standing up - for equality and systemic change so every human can thrive 
 

It feels really good to share these with you like it locks them in and makes them real.

Now it's your turn. What do you want to say yes to?