Say Yes Quotes

“Never say no when you really want to say yes.”
― Jenny Han, Always and Forever, Lara Jean

“I walked stiffly past the worst hussy of them all: my former BFF, who'd apparently decided to move in. Jessica had been at the restaurant every day for over two weeks. Most days more than once. I knew she was hot for my man, but holy cow.

Clearly I'd have to say yes to Reyes soon. This was getting ridiculous. he needed a ring on his finger--and fast.”
― Darynda Jones, Sixth Grave on the Edge

“Say no to everything, so you can say yes to the one thing.”
― Richie Norton

“Sometimes you must agree with someones opinion for the sake of being polite and modest, but within you, you know that you are not foolish and crazy.”
― Michael Bassey Johnson

“Deciding to actively heal is terrifying because it means opening up to hope. For many survivors, hope has brought only disappointment.
Although it is terrifying to say yes to yourself, it is also a tremendous relief when you finally stop and face your own demons.
There is something about looking terror in the face, and seeing your own reflection, that is strangely relieving. There is comfort in knowing that you don't have to pretend anymore, that you are going to do everything
within your power to heal. As one survivor
put it, "I know now that every time I accept
my past and respect where I am in the present, I am giving myself a future."
- The Courage to Heal”
― Ellen Bass, The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

“I used to believe that I could do everything and be everywhere. I could work longer hours, make the dead line, cook delicious meals, play with the kids, get enough sleep, focus on my health. And I can absolutely can do all these things. But not at the same time. Not on the same day.
Realizing that was a delightful freedom. Letting go of that notion of constant balance was releasing a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
You mean I don't have to be everything to everyone all the time? I don't have to keep all the balls in the air all the time? I can change balls? I can choose different balls?
Balance is finding the correct weight for every area of life and understanding that the correctness of that weight will change over time. Balance is fluid and flexible. Balance is alive and aware. Balance is intention.

This idea of balance- a correctness rather than an equalness has taught me some of the most important lessons of my life.

- I can not be everything to everyone
- I can not be in all places at once.
- Saying yes to one thing means saying no to another.
- Saying no to one thing means I can say yes to another.
- Perfection doesn't exist. Let it go.
- I can not change people
- I have to stop comparing myself to others. They aren't me. I'm not them.
- I will never finish the laundry
- I can't control everything
- Bad things happen to good people and vice versa.
- My kids aren't me.
- Being all in a moment means I'm all out of another.
- Envy and jealousy are different things.
- Achievements never look like I thought they were going to.
- Being kind to others is addictive.
- I can't always be self- possessed.
- Sometimes I need a cheerleader.
- I like being part of a community.
- Asking for help is hard, but necessary.

Embrace the wobbly balance.”
― Brooke McAlary, Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World

“But for years, my best coping strategy has been work. I have assumed so many responsibilities and said yes to so many things. Working hard creates my own gravity. The more I work, the more I am on terra firma.”
― David Chang, Eat a Peach

“Be prepared to say “no” to some things. That is the key. When you say “yes” to every invitation, event and call, you will come back to meet you plans on the paper in the same state you left them.”
― Israelmore Ayivor, Shaping the dream

“I can’t stand up in front of people and play and sing. I would rather die.
Remember, Viv, the Year of Saying Yes. So what if I die? So what if I’m crap and make a fool of myself? I know that no one ever does anything or gets anywhere without failure and foolishness. I’ve got to do it. Nelson has made me an offer I can’t refuse, the bugger.”
― Viv Albertine, Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys

“Say YES to the life you were born to live, you are here for greatness.”
― Monika Zands

“It's like you're averse to adventure.”
― Gayle Forman, Just One Day

“[When there's an event you don't really want to go to] there is this not unlikely circumstance that you will have a memory of an evening that was like ugh. But if you don't go you won't have any memory of that evening. It would just be another one where nothing happened.”
― Hank Green

“Gently push back, at least for one round. Cooperative people are programmed to say yes to the first reasonable proposal someone makes. To improve, you need to practice pushing back a little. A simple question that works well is: “Can you do better than that?” If the other side says no and you feel you can sustain the process for another round, ask for help understanding why that is the best they can do. If their answer makes no sense, share your confusion. You will get farther with a little polite persistence than you will by quick surrender.”
― G. Richard Shell, Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People

“Dear Daughter,
If you truly want growth, say yes to the things that nourish your soul.”
― Gift Gugu Mona, Dear Daughter: Short and Sweet Messages for a Queen

“Number two on my list is simple. I must say yes to everything for one whole day. Whatever it is and whoever asks it of me.”
― Jenny Downham

“Once in the small master bedroom, Lark didn’t look around or make chitchat. She just stared up at me with those wonderful green eyes and waited. I sensed she wasn’t unsure about me as much as sex.
“Have you been with a guy before?” I asked, caressing her lips.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Once.”
“It wasn’t good though.”
Lark shook her head and I saw she was nervous. “I’m not sure what to do. Like I know, but…”
“If you keep looking at me the way you are, all you’ll have to do is say yes and I’ll do the rest.”
― Bijou Hunter, Damaged and the Cobra

“Those who say yes are rewarded by the adventures they have.”
― Keith Johnstone

“My two favorite words in the whole wide world are "YES" and "DONE". I loathe & despise "NO" never taking it for an answer and "NOT YET" sends me into the stratosphere.”
― Sotero M Lopez II

“Say ‘yes’ until you have to say ‘no,’ and then say ‘no’ until you have to say ‘yes.”
― Joshua Fields Millburn

“When your instant reaction to everything is no, it's like you're unleashing a little monster that eats up all of life's possibilities.”
― Ryan Serhant, Sell It Like Serhant: How to Sell More, Earn More, and Become the Ultimate Sales Machine

“The more the other party needs what you can offer, the more they will feel the loss if you walk away. And the more likely they are to say yes to your terms.”
― G. Richard Shell, Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People

“Gently push back, at least for one round. Cooperative people are programmed to say yes to the first reasonable proposal someone makes. To improve, you need to practice pushing back a little. A simple question that works well is: “Can you do better than that?”
― G. Richard Shell, Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People

“Many of us say yes to things because we are eager to please and make a difference. Yet the key to making our highest contribution may well be saying no. As Peter Drucker said, “People are effective because they say ‘no,’ because they say, ‘this isn’t for me.”
― Greg McKeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

“We start scanning our environment for those vital few and eagerly eliminate the trivial many. Only then can we say no to good opportunities and say yes to truly great ones.”
― Greg McKeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

“The question you should be asking yourself is not: “What, of my list of competing priorities, should I say yes to?” Instead, ask the essential question: “What will I say no to?” This is the question that will uncover your true priorities.”
― Greg McKeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

“The point is not to say no to all requests. The point is to say no to the nonessentials so we can say yes to the things that really matter. It is to say no—frequently and gracefully—to everything but what is truly vital.”
― Greg McKeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

“If you truly want growth, say yes to the things that nourish your soul.”
― Gift Gugu Mona, Dear Daughter: Short and Sweet Messages for a Queen

“You know, Ronnie. The biggest discomfort you can seek in life is allowing yourself to actually live it.”
― Shelby Franks , Project Yes