A few years ago, I decided that I was going to stop saying no to myself. It sounds crazy, but seriously! Picture it. Imagine if you stopped telling yourself “no – you can’t make that happen”. Imagine a life where you always said yes to yourself, and you only accepted the word “no” from someone other than you.
What’s the worst that could happen? After a year that felt uncertain so many times, I started to question why I was so closed off to possibility. I noticed that when I am constantly saying no to myself, I am subconsciously taking the possibility of “yes” out of the equation.
I don’t think I’m the only person who does this, and why do we do it? Maybe to protect ourselves from disappointment or fear of not being good enough, or getting hurt. Unfortunately, when we self-sabotage in this way, we don’t leave room for possibility. We don’t give ourselves the credit we deserve and it results in the only answer being “no”.
Whether it’s a work position you don’t think you’re qualified for or an outfit you don’t think you can pull off, you’d be surprised what happens when you believe in yourself a little more. When I think back to all the changes that have happened in my life, so many of the choices that have led me to joy have come because of saying “yes, Sharlie – let’s do this thing”.
Four years ago, I quit my full-time job to pursue my dream of becoming a full-time photographer. I was terrified. I got on a plane to have a first date (with the man who would become the love of my life) in THAILAND. Both of these choices seemed crazy at the time. I had no idea how these decisions would turn out for me, but in those moments, I stopped saying no to myself. They turned out to be two of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone.
Feb 25, 2022