If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you are not sure you can do it, say yes. Then learn how to do it later.” — Richard Branson

Yes has magic within it. So often we are afraid of life — we fear failure, we anticipate the worst, we don’t know what to expect. In doing so and often by saying “no” to opportunities, we reject many of life’s brilliant chances. These are often disguised as a new career prospect, an opportunity to step up at work, a surprise request from a friend, or any type of unfamiliar challenge. Anything that creates a spark of curiosity within us or generates some desire that typically lays dormant within our familiar days, is often our intuition guiding us to say yes to more.

We let our fears instead of our creativity guide us. I have seen it hundreds of times. Typically people who say “no” to opportunity love to convince you (or themselves?) why it was right for a list of reasons. I am here to say, yes can often be right!

Here are 9 big reasons to say that little word yes:

1. You block the miracle if you don’t:
Opportunity sometimes knocks gently and does not wait for perfect timing. The truth is — there is no perfect timing! We need to trust that the universe has a bigger plan for us — one that we can only understand with hindsight.

2. There are an infinite number of reasons to say no — something is stirring the yes within you:
For something to be a question mark — a very considered decision — something, often deep inside of us, is saying yes. A no should be clear and obvious.

3. Someone believes you can:
North Face is not going to sponsor you to climb Everest if it is wildly out of the question that you are capable. Take the opportunity as a compliment and harness the same confidence that other people have in you.

4. Yes leads to more doors (no is often closing the door):
When my husband was asked to transfer to New York City at age 23, some people thought it was too soon. We are in our sixth year here and agree it is the best thing we have done so far. The subsequent opportunities it has provided us have been truly abundant and humbling.

To keep with the “yes” attitude, go ahead and pin the image below to spread the love!

5. Opportunities do not always arise again – or at least the same ones:
Fortune favors the bold. Sometimes when making a decision and considering both outcomes, the “no” outcome is connected to regret somehow. Regret is the biggest risk of all.

Tweet! Tweet! –

By saying yes, we invite possibility into our lives and the ability to learn what we are capable of – https://wp.me/p4Mv2G-7p via @susiemoore

6. Life is richer, fuller, more vibrant:
When we say yes, we do more, create more, live more.

7. It attracts positivity:
The word itself is inviting and empowering. It like saying, “World, I got this!”

8. Stretch yourself:
Why are we all here if not to become the fullest version of ourselves? By saying yes, we invite possibility into our lives and the ability to learn what we are capable of and just how far we can go.

9. Life is short. Ask not why, but why not?
One of my favorite quotes is from Steve Jobs who says “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.” A little perspective helps us abandon our fears.

What have you happily said yes to this year?