Yes, or NO

I recently saw a movie titled, "Yes Man". You may have seen it. Jim Carey played a banker whose job was to say no to bank loans. He also said no to life. Although he had friends who were encouraging and always trying to include him on social events, he chose to stay at home. He was miserable in his personal life and miserable on the job. He always said no.

The premise was that this sad man ran across an old friend who showed him that by always saying no, he was missing out on all the fun that life had to offer. His old friend led him to a group that said yes to everything and every opportunity that presented itself. He could not say no. If asked a "yes or no" question, he had to say yes. He bought into the process, mostly out of fear of rejection. And that is where the adventures began.

At first, I thought the movie rather simplistic. This movie was made for humor and it delivered. But at the end, it made me start thinking about my own life and the lives that I touch.

How many times have I said no to life. No to change. No to my friends. No to opportunities. No to social opportunities. No to success. No to a larger annual income. No, No, No. And why is it that we as human beings say no?

Research tells us that we all behave according to Maslow's hierarchy of need. Our first and basic needs are our physiological needs (breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, etc.) Then we need to feel safe (security of body, employment, resources, morality, family, health and property).

Then there are the needs of Love or Belonging, Esteem, and Self-Actualization.

Most of us spend our entire life in the realms of the physical and of safety. It is only after our primal needs are met that we feel secure enough to even begin to be aware of the last three of our basic needs. And at times, even then, we are afraid to say yes to self-actualization. We are afraid of failure, we are afraid of change. We don't want to leave our comfort zone. We don't want to open ourselves up to find our true selves, our true purpose. What if we fail ourselves? That is what we fear most. NO, NO, NO.

I am working on saying yes. Yes to life, yes to opportunities, yes to giving and yes to knowing myself on a deeper, spiritual level. Are you ready to say yes to life and yes to a deeper understanding of "why you are here?" Do you feel that working with someone could help you faster than working alone?

Working with a coach can help move you beyond the basic needs and move deeper onto working on your need for positive self esteem and self-actualization. Whether you are a business owner or an individual asking yourself, "Why am I here", I can help. Before you can begin to reach your goals in your business, first you must be balanced in your life.

JUST SAY YES.