Live into your potential with the Rule of Yes

Have you ever found yourself looking at something you would really like to do and responded with, "Yes but...?" Yes, that's a great idea but... I'd really love to but... The variations are endless, and every time you say it, you strangle your potential.

I want to encourage you to banish that combination of words from your vocabulary forever. 

In her brilliant book, Improv Wisdom, Patricia Ryan Madsen offers an alternative to, "yeah but." The alternative is "yes and."

The book takes a look at how the principles of theatrical improv can apply to our lives. One of those principles is the Rule of Yes. As she describes it:

The spirit of improvising is embodied in the notion of "yes and." Agreement begins the process; what comes next is to add something or develop the offer in a positive direction.

How often do we block our potential with yeah-buts? Yeah but is a dead end. It stops the show and brings things to a grinding halt.

When we say yes and to life, we open up to the possibilities. Rather than look for reasons to go no further, we look for ways to move things forward in a positive way. We actively try to find the potential of the moment, regardless of the circumstance. 

So for example instead of, "Yeah, it would be great to pursue a career I love, but I can't because...," you might say, "Yes, I have these obstacles, and these are some steps I might be able to take to explore a way around them."

Try this: Next time you hear yourself saying some variation on yeah but, stop and replace it with yes and. Ask yourself, how can I say yes? How can I stop blocking? What will move me forward?

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Time for a career change? Launch it with...
The Occupational Adventure Guide:
A Travel Guide to the Career of Your Dreams

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by Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst

Comments

[Patricia Ryan Madson]

Few things delight an author more than to have her message read loud and clear. Thanks for mentioning my book, Improv Wisdom and for seeing the intelligence in these ideas. I wish you great success in all of your undertakings and a life of YES-AND!
Warm regards,
Patricia Ryan Madson

[Curt Rosengren]

Thanks for stopping by, Patricia! I have recommended your book to many clients and have gotten great feedback on it. Thanks for writing it.