Have you ever said “no” to doing something but really wished you’d said “yes”?

I did.

Back in late February, a mentor of mine advertised the opportunity to speak at one of her upcoming online events. The event was called the Women’s Spirit Festival and it would be a massive gathering, bringing together thousands of women in the wellness community. Having never done any formal, public speaking before, but with a long-standing goal to do just that, I instantly recognized this as a serendipitous opportunity and knew my answer should be “yes!”…

But I said no.

With 4 years under my belt as a business owner and almost 6 years as a massage therapist, I didn’t feel my experience, skills, and topic were good enough to hold the attention of my peers. I ignored the spark inside me that glowed brighter at the idea of speaking and resigned myself to the self-made assumption that I wasn’t ready.

Fortunately, God/the Universe/Fate (whatever resonates with you) had other plans when one week later, that same mentor reached out to me personally, asking if I was going to join her speaker’s group. Again, I rattled off the same excuses, but this time, I didn’t believe my narrative. My inner voice knew that my decision not to speak was not aligned with who I am and who I want to be and within minutes of my initial no, I changed my mind, signed up, and spoke.

Fears of not being ‘good enough’ or ‘ready’ are commonplace for many of us. Keeping safe within our comfort zones, we tell ourselves that “playing small” is the best option and that choosing to ignore confronting the parts of ourselves that actually wish to change where we are is “fine”.

That quote holds a special kind of wisdom that I have often joked (and also considered) getting made into my next tattoo. It explains why saying yes to my talk felt so good. When we embrace opportunities that can both resonate with our well-being and ask us to evaluate where we are, it can be such a powerful catalyst for personal growth and vitality. When we say yes to experiences that bring joy and fulfillment, we nourish our mind, body, and soul. Whether it’s showing up for an exercise class, exploring different ways of understanding and healing our pain, or learning something to ‘level up’ our contribution, each positive choice contributes to our wellness journey.

When we practice silencing the doubts, taking that leap of faith, and trusting in our ability to rise to the occasion, we invite transformation and empowerment into our lives.

In all of my work at Theralleve, I believe in helping my clients, like you, find their “yes” – your well-being awaits!