According to David Richo (author of The five things we cannot change … and the happiness we find by embracing them) one of the single most powerful words in the English language is ……….."YES"! One of the first words we learn as children (other than mama) is No. Then we spend the rest of our life looking for what is wrong. What would happen if we start looking for what is right? - If we started saying yes, instead of no.

I’m not talking about saying yes to everything. I’m not talking about saying yes to everyone else’s needs. I’m talking about a more personal yes – and not that yes when asking if you should have seconds (or maybe even thirds) or having that extra helping of ice cream with the chocolate cake. I’m not talking about saying yes to every instant gratification choice that comes along to distract you from your plan.

So what am I (and I think Richo) talking about? A more personal yes; an acceptance of the way things are. A good example of what Richo is talking about is our mourning. When we are faced with the grief process, one of the first stages is denial. But the sooner we can be over the denial (the “no”), the sooner we can be through the process to acceptance. Saying yes in such circumstances can be very freeing – saying yes, in general, is very freeing. Does love ever flourish in our lives without first saying yes? What about the plans to obtain a dream… can that happen if you don’t say yes to it? Opportunities are nothing without first a “yes”, to open that door.

There is a time to say “no”, but sometimes when we say or think no, it would better serve us to say “yes”. Give it some thought – “yes” will open some doors for you – it can make things happen.

Love and Bright blessings ~ Richard