I said yesterday don’t be afraid to say no. Today I am going to make the case for saying yes.
The difference in our lives is when we say yes when other people say no. I am not arguing here for hustle culture. There is a balance in life. I am talking about doing things that make you happy and help others but are difficult to do. Those are the things that you need to focus on.
Say yes to therapy and let go of the terrible ideas that other people with good intentions shoved into your beliefs. Say yes to challenging your comfort zone every day so that you grow as a person. Say yes when it helps someone else and doesn’t cost you anything. Say yes when it helps someone else and it requires giving your time, talents, or money.
Everyone complains about how terrible the world is. Are they doing something to make the world a better place? The only people who have a right to complain about the world are the ones that are actively trying to make it better. Yes everyone has an opinion, but they aren’t helpful unless backed up with action, facts, organization, or some kind of principle. Random acts of kindness while necessary are not enough to make the systematic changes our world needs. You have to be part of something that can exert pressure on decision-makers, or we will continue to have the world we have today.
Say yes when doing so helps you become more empathic. It is sad to only have empathy when you have experienced the problem firsthand. Right now lots of people are suffering, and we go about our lives as though buying a larger TV is what is important. Think about the legacy you want to leave. Is the auctions of your belongings the only thing that people will remember you for?