Y is for Yes: A to Z Blogging Challenge 2018

From the cradle to the grave, yes is one of the words we long to hear.

Yes, when used correctly, can be both  a powerful and empowering word. The yeses we hear from others can influence us from outside ourselves. Unfortunately, those yeses  depend on others, and they can be used to manipulate.  The good news is, the  yeses we tell ourselves can be even more powerful, because we are in control of the influence.  Our internal yeses can become empowering.

Yeses, whether external or internal, when used for good, can grow in us the confidence to dream bigger dreams, act more fearlessly, and achieve higher goals.  Sometimes even previously believed "impossible" goals.

Yes is almost as powerful and empowering as love--almost--but not quite. Because as powerful as it is, yes has limits.

Sometimes yes is mistaken for love. If you love me you'll agree with me...you'll give me what I desire...you'll ...(whatever).  That isn't love. That's manipulation.  Love does the heavy lifting, the hard work. Love disciplines and says, "No," when required. Even when saying no is hard, and the easy way out is to give in by saying yes.

Sometimes yes is erroneously entwined in our self-worth. If I get the job...the contract...the loan...the person...the (whatever),  then I'm a pretty good person ...writer...artist...singer... athlete...student...spouse...(whatever).  But conditions are not, and should not be, the true litmus test for our self-worth.

From the cradle to the grave our yeses can be both powerful and empowering.  It's vital that we are responsible and use our external and internal yeses for good.