Just say "YES!"

Positive thinking. You know what it is. You know how to do it. Sometimes you may even do it without trying. But how many times to you make an effort to think positively when you do not at all feel positive?


Now, I’m not going to get into the debate of whether positive thinking can influence health or cure cancer, which many think it can, but I would like to challenge you think about your thought patterns.

Going past the basic philosophy of human thought, (Ego cogito, ergo sum; Descartes famous line “I think, therefore I am.”) proponents of positive thinking believe that how you think influences how you are.

If you have ever seen the movie “Yes Man” you know where I’m going with this. In the beginning Jim Carey’s character is caught in a cycle of his own negativity. A series of events leads him to, (as the name implies), say “Yes” to everything that comes his way. “No” is no longer part of his vocabulary. He is introduced to new foods, new friends, and new experiences that his previous mindset would never have allowed.

Aside from being a pretty funny movie pitch, it’s interesting to consider how perhaps just changing one simple word in your vocabulary could change your life.

Can you imagine heading into situations knowing that no matter what, you are going to say “Yes!”

Think about a group fitness class where the instructor decides to introduce some crazy move you’ve never seen. Rather than thinking, “Ugh. No way I’m doing that. I’m too uncoordinated.” You say “Yes! That looks awesome!” How different would that class be for you?

What about a new vegan recipe a friend brings over. Do you think, “Oh no, this is going to be awful.” or do you say, “Yes, I’d love to try some, Thanks!”

I’m not suggesting that you walk around constantly with a phony positive attitude or that you take “No” completely out of your vocabulary. But I do believe that if you open up your thought patterns to accept not just the possibility, but the probability, that something will be a good experience, that it will be a good experience.

So my challenge to you is to simply take pause before you dismiss a new experience (even, say, this very challenge!) with a quick “No way.” Imagine yourself saying “Yes!” and it being a great event. You may completely surprise yourself and open up an entirely new world of fun. Happy “yes”sing!