Saying YES is not a habit, it is a way of life… it is a lifestyle…

Today our generation is engrossed in screens. Even I can be at times!!! There are pop up messages and notifications everywhere and it is ever so time consuming. Social media is persuading us on how we should look, what we should do, where to go on holiday, influencers make you feel like you're not living your life properly and there is this amazing world in Instagram. I am here to tell you this is all a deception! Technology is making us indecisive, it is pulling us away from our human nature and it is taking away our personal dreams and aspirations and your own reasons for doing things. Your best companion is your own imagination.

There goes a saying like this “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees”. I was working on my thesis one evening and realized I didn’t even know why I was doing this thesis and then I realized I was so engrossed in my screen that I hadn’t even noticed what the weather was like outside and it made me think… I need to take a walk. Nature and the outdoors facilitated a huge change for me. Having time to disconnect from technology has really helped me to discover what I truly want in life and it has improved my physical and more importantly mental health. I took a notebook into a park during my 3rd year at university and wrote down all the things that I wanted to do and why I wanted to do them. I then prioritized them and realized a lot of what I wrote wasn’t what I was told to do or what the social media world was trying to persuade me to do. It was my own imagination and thoughts and it was quite empowering.

Mental health cases are on the rise in the UK faster than the NHS and mental health charities can handle... I know first hand what it is like to live with poor mental health and from hearing countless others account their experiences of poor mental health I now see it as of utmost importance for our society to support and address this growing concern. "Outdoor time" has given me all the support I have ever needed for my physical and mental health. However, for others it's not that easy, they may need other means of support, prevention and recovery which Mind in Mid Herts strives to provide!

I will tell you my story on how I took charge of my own life and it all started in my final years of university. This is a critical time and it influences what type of person you may want to become.

“If you were told that you have 5 years left on this planet… what would you fill your life up with? What would your goals be? ”

— A mate of mine

Something changed when I was asked this question and I took it literally… I said NO to the “ordinary life”… and said YES to pursue the extraordinary. Opportunities have come my way, whereas in the past I may have laughed and said maybe in the future. Now I say yes to things that can elevate me and push me to my limits. I take them on regardless of what some of the outcomes are as it is all about the journey for me. In the last 7 years I have treated everyday like it’s my last.

I said yes to more outdoor challenges

I have since rowed the Atlantic Ocean, created an eco-adventure film documentary, swam the English Channel, climbed to the summit of the highest peak in Africa (Mt.Kilimanjaro), awarded a WORLD RECORD for longest continual row on indoor rowing machine (83 hours).

Swimming the English Channel as part of a relay

Running my first marathon around Loch Ness in Scotland

I said YES to my dreams and no to things holding me back.

I can tell you now it is never too late to change but don’t wait… If you have a dream, go and get it! I had a penny flip moment! I realized that I was following the media, living my life by what others told me was the right way to live and at this point in time I had never truly sat down and looked at what I want in life.

But here's the thing…

Following through with a “Yes” is hard. It requires action, commitment and engagement. And, like it or not, yes will lead to failure much of the time. On the other hand, no is easy. You don't have to change your life, much less get up off the couch, with no. There's zero risk of failure with no. Of course, there's also zero chance of success.

Find a way to say yes to things. Say yes to invitations to a new country. Say yes to meeting new friends. Say yes to learning a new language, picking up a new sport. Yes is how you get your first job, and your next job. Yes is how you find your spouse, and even your kids. Even if it's a bit edgy, a bit out of your comfort zone, saying yes means you will do something new, meet someone new and make a difference in your life, and likely in others' lives as well. … Yes is a tiny word that can do big things. Say it often.

How do I say YES?

It is rather simple, when offered an opportunity and you have a gut feeling and logically it fits in your pursuit, you should know within 10 seconds (10 second rule) if it is right for you. I tend to at least take the chance and work out how to do it later, this means I do not miss out on something that will make me happy and fulfill me.

Image by: Penny Bird

Game for you

Try for 1 week to say Yes to more things that resonate with your inner self and message me your progress. I want feedback… are you happier and more excited with your life? Are you taking on to much now? Let me know…