say yes more

I thought about doing this ages ago (at which point I just about doubled my Yes factor) then recently heard about Danny Wallace’s book. That just cemented the idea for me. Incidently I asked myself if I should read the book and I said “Yes”.

I took my foot off the pedal a bit with this one, after saying Yes to something that I really believed was a good idea, and having it blow up in my face.

But it turns out, I was right- sometimes, even if you say Yes, you can’t guarantee other people aren’t going to say No, and knock you back a bit.

I think this new, resolved Yes could be very interesting.

I heard of this man, I forgot his name, that said “Yes” to everything that he was asked to do, me and my friend were quite interested by the concept of saying “Yes” to everything, be it for the experience or just out of sheer curiosity as to what would happen.
It became quite a regular thing, we would have a ‘Yes Friday’ every Friday, as we were in school, we were not asked anything that challenging or tiring, yet people soon began to think of me as a pushover, and would do anything that was asked, even though I would, but I then was asked silly things, which I still did, but I also gave myself a little rule which allowed me to say no if it was a a bit too stupid or if anybody would get physically or emotionally for that matter, hurt.
But YES, it was a good experience, and I’m going to try a ‘Yes week’ which should be very challenging and exhausting!
The end of my waffle is around about now.

Saying yes more has opened up many new doors to me, ones I wouldn’t normally open. It has also boosted my self-confidence and self-esteem.

It’s so worth it :o)

I have also been trying to be more positive, and this seems to be increasing the people who what to contact me.

I guess it makes sense! :o)

I have agreed to meeting 2 new people. So I’ve agreed to a party tonight (Saturday 17th May 2008), a lunchtime drink tomorrow (Sunday 18th May 2008) and I’ve also been invited to a beer festival on Monday, even thought I don’t drink lol :o)

This saying “yes” more goal is increasing my meetings with new people and opening up so many doors that wouldn’t normally open.

Everything we say “yes” to, there are 3-4 things that come out of that yes, and so on, and so on. So it’s like an every increasing set of opportunities opening up to us.

I recommend this. Saying yes also forces us out of our comfort zone, which increases personal growth and confidence.

I say “go for it”, you never know what can happen in this wonderful life :o)

I have said yes to two parties (although one has been cancelled now), and I’ve also said yes to a benefit gig.

Oh yeah I’m feeling goooooood babyyyyyyyyyyy :o)

This is dedicated to Danny Wallace who wrote “Yes Man”, you genius Danny! (Check out http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yes-Man-Danny-Wallace/dp/0091896738)

I think that I can mark this one as done…since now I don’t automatically say No to invitations, I consider them and often say Yes :)

Saying Yes can be exhausting!

I’ll keep on doing it when appropriate but sometimes I may say NO more. Especially to the pub!

Last year me and my friend spent a week where we both had to say “yes” to everything. At the start of the week we both emailed all friends to suggest meeting up soon. Only rules being no excess of money spent, or aganst morals.

It sounds childish I know, but it was one of the best weeks I’ve had. Neither of us suceeded fully. The shops’ “Do you want anything else with that?” and collegues questionings of “Would you like some more tea / sugar with your tea?” had to be refused in the end.

But I did have many a good catch up with people. Although my talks with street volenteers caused me to change my walks at lunch times (not quite in the spirt of it I know, but there’s only so many times you can talk about that new phone/old people/the enviorment).

I’m going to make this next week, from tomorrow, another “Yes” week. I’m quite excited.

I’ve marked this as something I’ve done that I want to do again. More accurately it’s something I want to continue doing. I used to try to enumerate the great things I’ve got out of saying yes more, but there are too many to count now.

I’d include quite a lot of travel, an awesome job and many new friends as things I would have missed out on if I hadn’t been actively trying to say yes more.