I write many blogs about taking chances and being an optimist in life. I can see how some people might have a difficult time seeing that side during a pandemic. However, it is those trying times when you must rise above the darkness and negativity and be the shining ray of light. We have to dig down and summon up every last bit of energy and courage to reach the best version of ourselves. I understand that things are hard, and you might be stressed out, but you have to keep moving to reach the destinations you want to reach. That is what it comes down to, and I hope you say “Yes!” to your dreams. In this blog, I want you to redefine your why and turn your purpose into a mission. One that you can no longer put on the back burner, and to stop waiting for tomorrow because tomorrow when today needs your full attention.

They say if you are not living, then you are dying, so I want you to begin to start saying yes to living. The way you choose to live can be drastically different from the next person. What will not change from person to person is the hunger to achieve. We all want to achieve great things in our life, but many are too lazy to put in the work. Many procrastinate until another day or pray/wish those good things come their way. What if I told you that all the good things that can be in your life are in arms reach? Would you reach out and grab them or tremble in fear? The unknown is scary. I know that firsthand, but there is something even scarier than not trying, and that is living a life filled with regrets.

Your mind can be a very poisonous space At times, and you can refuse to take the antidote that will cure you. That poison is the negativity stewing in your mind taking control of your life. The cure is a simple dose of positivity and optimism. I know it can be easy to forget what serves you and what is good for you, but it is important to walk on your own two feet and acknowledge your strength. Why not say yes to being more positive, taking chances, and living each day to its fullest? I know there are many people who reach their beds at night and toss and turn. If you have all that energy to stay awake at night, then that means you did not work hard enough that day. That means you have to pick up the pace of your life and get uncomfortable. You have created a realm where you are comfortable, and it is now essential that you start going after your dreams before it is too late. You can turn your dreams into reality, but it requires some major effort on your part. You must be willing to do what you don’t want to do when you don’t want to do it.

This is where the power of saying “yes” comes into play. If you can change your mindset to say yes to the things that scare you or seem challenging, then one day you will wonder why you did not start this sooner. I can recall many times as a swim instructor seeing the students afraid to jump into the pool from the side. By no means was this a high jump, but to them, it was mammoth! I asked them why they would not jump, and they would tell me that they were scared. I would say, who told you that this is scary? Then they start to think. They do not understand that their brain is sending a signal throughout their body to be afraid because there is a coherent risk of swimming or jumping into a pool. With that being said, why do some kids have an easier time trusting and jumping in while others tremble on the side of the pool? The answer to that is the mindset.

We as humans are special because the way our mind develops and processes things can be different for each individual. I am sure you know some people who are good at a particular subject or skill. Regardless of which hemisphere they favor at a young age, it is important to recognize their upbringing. How did this individual grow up? What type of experiences did they have? Did they grow up with love and tenderness? Perhaps they grew up with anger and resentment. Understanding the foundation and groundwork is the key to unlocking the past and knowing what the brain will do. It can be hard to say yes when all you know in your life is no and to be afraid. I want you to unlock your potential and show the world how amazing you can be right now.

So then, how do we unlock our brain and bring forth positivity and all the other wonderful things that come with it? The simple answer is you have to trick your brain. We are very intelligent life forms, and that wit/cleverness that we have must be tamed. I have found the solutions to be a trial-and-error sort of thing from my years of teaching/coaching. What might work for one age group or person might not work for the next. What I found to be the same between all the age groups is that people have a time window to either make a positive or negative choice. For example, when I asked a student to jump into the pool and swim to me, it was critical that they had no more than 3-5 seconds to make the jump. In just those few seconds, your brain can put up a huge wall that says, “NO, DON’T DO IT!”. I learned how not to let this wall form and have learned how to tear it down if it does happen to form. I would simply do this by inserting intense motivation and praise and adding an amount of speed where the brain does not have time to make an excuse. (Refer to Video: Overcome yourself)

We all want to feel good in life, so we say “no” to things that we “think” won’t make us feel good. A big one people struggle with all the time is going to the gym. The person who wants to get in shape makes up an excuse and fills their mind with fear and doubt. These people actually put their own selves in a worst position than someone who is not even worried about being fit. Worrying about things (aka stress) does the body more harm than good in this scenario. If the person who wanted to get into shape said yes to getting it done now, then they would have a complete transformation. Not just in their overall health but also their mental health. They subconsciously created more confidence, energy, positivity, and momentum for their life.

It all began with them saying, “yes.” No resistance allows you to move more easily, and it feels great. Have you ever tried to sleep, eat, or work with the world on your shoulders? It doesn’t feel good one bit. What if we said “yes” to tackling all of our trouble areas and committing the rest of our days to live with purpose and decisiveness? You would be in a completely different mindset! You would be at peak operating capacity with no limitations. Best of all, you will be free to make the choices that are best for your life right now. I can tell you that there is nothing wrong with wanting to have a good life. You do not have to sacrifice that in order to be human. I am a big believer that you must make sure your cup is full before you go around filling up other people’s cups.

All in all, the power of “yes” can be a gratifying thing to incorporate into your life. Not only will this allow your brain to operate more concisely, but it will eliminate the need to be your own worst enemy.

“The biggest wall you will ever climb is in your mind, and you put it there.” 

Do yourself a favor; if you can, get out of your way. Just do what needs to be done and stop waiting, making excuses, and saying “no” to yourself. Make the most of your life each day. Be sure to feel as free as you can, with no anchors holding you back. You were meant to soar but simply forgot how to fly. I do my best to be a reminder that people need to “wake up” fully. Be aware of all that is and can be you, and say “yes” to achieving that version of yourself.

Until then,

Michael Rearden

Founder of Reven Concepts