Make 2018 your year of saying YES!
Make 2018 your year of saying yes
By Paula Morand
A few months ago I reflected on a real down time in my life. Those times in life where it feels like everything is hard and coming against you. Yes, those times.
I lost so much confidence temporarily that I didn’t even believe my own elevator speech.
I spent a few evenings curled up with a cozy blanket binge-watching television. Everything from Grey’s Anatomy to Scandal to How to Get Away with Murder fascinated me when I should have been completing goals I set for myself.
Somewhere in the middle of this haze I realized that all the shows I was watching came out of one woman’s brain: Shonda Rhimes.
In the funny way that one thing leads to another I Googled her and found myself watching her TED talk on the importance of saying “yes” in life. You can watch it here if you haven’t seen it yet: https://www.ted.com/talks/shonda_rhimes_my_year_of_saying_yes_to_everything/
That led me to her book: Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In The Sun and Be Your Own Person (Simon & Shuster, 2015).
I realized that this amazing woman who is responsible for about 70 hours of television each week was a huge believer in saying “yes” when the rest of us might say “no” out of fear that we could not possibly accomplish the challenges that others offer us.
So last year was the year Shonda’s inspiration prompted me to say “yes” even when it meant moving far out of my comfort zone. It turned out to be an amazing year, and as 2018 dawns, I encourage you to make this your “year of yes.”
Three significant things happen to you when you find the courage to use the word “yes.”
Life on your terms
The most amazing thing is the rush of confidence that comes just by uttering the word “yes.” You are taking charge of your destiny. You are calling the shots, embarking on a new adventure of your own making.
Saying yes also means that someone else thought you had the power and the brains and creativity to do what they want, even if you doubted yourself. If someone else thinks you can do something challenging and amazing, why should you argue with them and tell them they are wrong? Go for it and figure it out as you go along!
Push up your interest quotient
Saying “yes” means that you have a new story to tell as well, and suddenly that makes you more interesting.
Nothing is more boring than getting together with friends and answering the question “what’s new?” with the “same old, same old” refrain.
When you have just said “yes” to something new you have something else to talk about and that is always interesting. People who love you think it’s great; people who doubt you think you are a little misguided, but either way all of you have something to talk about.
Stake out your own terms
Saying “yes” means that you have taken charge of your life and are living it on your terms. You make decisions to move out of your zone and into a whole new scenario.
Whether you are just starting your career, well-established at mid-life, or exploring a new adventure instead of retirement there is a tremendous power of invigoration when you dare to say “yes.”
Could you spend six months in a foreign country to do a project? Yes. Could you write a book about your specialty? Yes. Could you take a commission to prepare a creative work? Yes. Could you open your business? Sing a new song? Invent a new solution to an old problem?
Yes, yes, yes. Bring it on. This is your year to give it a try and see where it takes you!
Paula Morand is a leadership building, revenue boosting, strategy expanding keynote speaker, author and visionary. This dreaming big and being bold leadership expert and brand strategist brings her vibrant energy, humor and wisdom to ignite individuals, organizations and communities to lead change, growth and impact in a more bold fashion.
24 years, 27,000 clients, 34 countries, 15 books, former radio personality, 11x award winning entrepreneur and humorous emcee.
Check out Paula’s bestselling books on Amazon: “Bold Courage: How Owning Your Awesome Changes Everything”, “Dreaming BIG and Being BOLD: Inspiring stories from Trailblazers, Visionaries and Change Makers” book series; and due to be released in January 2018 “Bold Vision: A Leader’s Playbook for Managing Growth”.
For speaking inquiries email bookings@paulamorand.com or call toll-free 1-888-502-6317.