How to Bravely Say Yes

When you’re ready to say Yes to your next uplevel, I’m here.

I came across a post on IG today that stopped me in my tracks:

“If you’re looking for reasons to say No – do it.

If you’re looking for reasons to say Yes – don’t do it.”

How long does it take you to make a decision? 

I’m not talking about a ‘what to make for dinner’ kind of decision. I mean the kind that feels and is BIG.

Moving cross country.

Getting engaged.

Starting a business.

Investing in working with a coach.

You know, the kind of decision that makes your heart race and your doubts swirl.

I faced my own ‘sweaty palm’ decision recently. 

For a while, I’ve felt myself changing. I’ve felt my dreams and visions expanding.

And, just like my clients, I realized I was facing a fork in the road: Say Yes to playing bigger, or keep things as they are.

And let me tell you… I may guide my clients to take aligned and meaningful action, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy for me to do it!

About a month ago an opportunity landed in my lap that I knew was a Yes, but all I could think about was why I should say No.

It was to participate in a speaker photoshoot in San Francisco. A group of entrepreneurs – all who want to accelerate their public speaking career – coming together with a professional photographer to capture photos in various scenes: standing on stage with a microphone, participating in a fireside chat, and leading a meeting in a boardroom.

My heart and my spirit lit up at the idea. I’ve been working towards doing more public speaking for a few years now… and I’ve learned it’s hard to book speaking gigs if you don’t have photos of yourself doing it!

Seems like reason enough to do it, right?

But my brain would not stop spinning around all the reasons I should say No.

I shouldn’t spend the money.

People will think I’m vain or shallow.

Being photographed makes me uncomfortable.

I don’t have anything to wear.

It will be so embarrassing.

And so many more.

How do you overcome your reasons to say No, and choose to say Yes anyway?

That’s what we’re going to explore today.

Try This Out 

What’s a big decision you’re facing, and how will you decide whether you want to say Yes?

We’re all familiar with pros and cons lists… and trust me, I made my own when it came to the photoshoot. 

But when I stepped back and looked at both columns, I had roughly equal the number of pros and cons. Neither column seemed to definitively outweigh the other.

Not helpful!

So I tried it again, except this time I tapped into my imagination. I thought about the woman I want to be. The woman who holds herself with grace and compassion, who’s bold and brave in service of her dreams. 

The woman who believes in herself and trusts her own judgment.

Then I made a new pros and cons list. And there it was, plain as day:

The woman I want to be would say Yes to the photoshoot.

The woman I want to be would look at all the reasons to say No, and choose to say Yes anyway.

So that’s what I invite you to try today.

If you’re facing a big decision, take a moment to connect with the person you wish to be. The person you’re growing into. Close your eyes and imagine that version of you – how you look, how you feel, how you behave.

And from that place, ask yourself: is this a decision that will get me closer to that version of me?

What’s Next

Last Friday I found myself in a studio space in San Francisco, changing into my new clothes and getting my makeup done.

Then I bravely stood on stage, fake microphone in hand, while the other participants watched me from the audience and the photographer’s camera went click, click, click.

And I felt like the woman I want to be. I think my smile proves it, too.

If the big decision you’re facing is about your future – about who you want to become – I sincerely hope you’ll say Yes. 

And I’m here to guide you every step of the way when you’re ready.

You’ve got this!

Onward,