Yes/No- The Two Sided Coin

It is easy to see how choosing to say yes to one thing might be a great choice.  Saying yes to an opportunity, a date, a positive mindset, all can take us down the path we imagined.  Just as important though are the no’s.  No I won’t enable this person, no I won’t eat that, no I will save this money instead of spending it.  When we look at a decision often we are only seeing one side of the Yes/No coin.  In reality they are intertwined closely.  One can not happen without the other.  By putting all our decisions through this lens, it will help us see the bigger picture in our decisions. 

Now it could be something as trivial as choosing to wear pants over a skirt.  In many cases like this, one or the other really doesn’t really make a difference.  What I’m talking about is  saying yes to the veggie soup instead of the deep-fried chicken, drinking another glass of water instead of sugar filled coffee, taking the stairs to work instead of the elevator.  Choosing to get up off the couch to do our own favor instead of asking the kids or our spouse for the millionth time.  You can imagine the compounding effect of these small choices after a month.

There are many categories in our life where carefully choosing our yes’s and no’s will dramatically effect our outcome.  Some of them are health, finances, relationships, spirituality, mindset and habits.  Choosing to do your own haircuts and color at home instead of monthly salon visits will help you stay within budget.  Having the hard conversation with your spouse instead of walking away in anger will help keep the lines of  communication open.  Taking time to reflect and connect with your creator will help you stay wiser and more centered.  Choosing to have a positive outlook on life and an upbeat attitude will turn the mountains back into molehills where they belong.  Building good new habits and letting go of old harmful ones will keep you on the path to your ultimate goals.

Seeing how the yes and no is intertwined every time we make a decision will help us first to make a wise choice, and second to be ok with the consequences.  Good or bad.  We take ownership of the results, because we knew what the power of that yes or no meant.  No longer are we surprised, helpless or a victim.  So the next time someone asks you to come hang out or go out drinking with them, you can stop worrying about what your no might mean to them and instead think about what it will mean to you.  Maybe it’s a solitary night in that you were looking forward to, or saving your money for your much needed vehicle repair.  Choose your yes or no and leave the guilt behind.