Are you scared of the word no? Rejection isn’t fun but is it something to fear or something to welcome? I don’t love hearing no, we all prefer life to bend to our wants and needs yet life is about perspective and we must be mindful of our vantage point. When we ask for something it’s because we don’t have it therefore yes can only elevate us. A no typically doesn’t push us lower it simply keeps us where we are at. Often we are where we are until we learn a thing or grow in an area and no allows us to do just that.

Previously I looked at no as an obstacle course to run through. No stopping, no pausing, get me straight to what I want, I clearly asked the wrong person or was in the wrong room so let me go find my yes. I bumped my head a lot not understanding rejection’s redirection. If you’re anything like me we think we know what’s best so no becomes a challenge to change a person’s mind so they can see things our way. This my friends has made life harder than it ever needed to be and sometimes I changed so much to change their minds I changed me. Forgetting my essence and losing sight of the point of getting what I want to begin with. Hindsight that’s not cool... If I have to conform to get what I want is it really me who gets it?

Now I’m not talking about adapting. Strategy and adaptability are tools needed to maneuver through life, I’m talking about being so focused on getting what you think you want you don’t check in with who you are. For example, when we interview for a job being professional and being fake are different. If the company’s culture isn’t a good fit for you even if hired you won’t stay long and if you do chances are high you’ll be miserable. Your purpose doesn’t grow when you’re fake, nothing does. No should be used as navigation to prevent wasting our time and talents. No is redirecting us not discouraging us because it doesn’t take anything from us, yet it notifies us that we are headed in the wrong direction, which allows us a moment to check in with ourselves. Please note it isn’t a time to overthink it’s simply a reminder to check our standards, make sure we don’t settle, and remember our whys. Why do I want this? Does it honor God, is it in alignment with my goals, or is it a distraction? Do I want this or is this for my parents or something outside of me? Do I have the capacity for what a yes would bring? Be honest with yourself. The more we learn ourselves the more in flow of things we can be.

I am embracing no and all of me. I pray you embrace no too. I pray you learn yourself like never before and that you be so authentically you that it aligns you with everything and everyone you need. How exciting is that? Can you feel the freedom there? Can you feel a life where you can fully be yourself and do the things you love because you welcomed no resistance? Listen to the noes, enjoy the yeses, and you’ll learn. #SincerelyJam