Just don't say no...

Say YES! (Unless It’s to Wrestling a Bear. Then Maybe... Think Twice.)

Let’s face it—saying “yes” to new things can be terrifying. Like, "I just agreed to do karaoke and now I’m on stage singing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ with a tambourine" terrifying. But here’s the thing: those scary, out-of-your-wheelhouse moments? They’re the ones that light a fire under your butt and make life interesting.

Sure, fear of failure, embarrassment, or being laughed at like a soggy meme can cloud your judgment. Suddenly, you’re saying no to things that could actually be amazing. Like goat yoga. Or improv comedy. Or learning to juggle flaming torches (okay, maybe not that last one unless you're insured).

Now, let’s be clear: saying yes doesn’t mean agreeing to do something you definitely can’t do. If you’re a Brit like me and someone asks, “Can you do a convincing American accent?”—and your best attempt sounds like a confused cowboy from Mars—then “no” is a perfectly acceptable answer. But hey, that’s your cue to go get some dialect coaching and come back sounding like you just walked off a Netflix drama.

Because someone asked if you could do it. That means there’s demand. And where there’s demand, there’s opportunity. And where there’s opportunity, there’s usually snacks. (Okay, maybe not always, but wouldn’t that be nice?)

I love quoting people smarter than me—mostly because it makes me sound smarter. Jason Reynolds, American author and certified wisdom ninja, once said:

“Be not afraid of discomfort. If you can't put yourself in a situation where you are uncomfortable, then you will never grow. You will never change. You'll never learn.”

Boom. Mic drop. And he’s right. If you never fail, you never learn. If you never learn, you never grow. And if you never grow, you’re basically a houseplant. A very safe, very boring houseplant.

Since I started saying yes more often, my life has turned into a highlight reel of “Wait, I did what?” I’ve taken acting classes, flying lessons, singing lessons, been interviewed on a podcast, and even became a finalist in the Ultimate VO Survivor competition. (No, it’s not a reality show where voice actors fight to the death. But wouldn’t that be wild?)

Saying yes is liberating. It’s like giving your inner adventurer a double espresso and letting them loose. It’s now my default answer to almost everything—unless it involves harming people, animals, or eating pineapple on pizza. (Just kidding. Sort of.)

So next time someone asks you to do something that makes your stomach do backflips, channel your inner superhero and shout, “HELL YEAH!” Experiences make you a better person—and a better actor. They give you emotional ammo: embarrassment, anticipation, joy, panic, and that weird feeling when you realize your pants are on backwards.

And even if the only thing you learn is “never do that again,” you’ve still grown. You’ve still lived. You’ve still got a story to tell.

Legal Disclaimer: This blog is not responsible for any questionable decisions made after reading it. If you say yes to skydiving with a raccoon or joining a competitive cheese-rolling league, that’s on you. But hey—have a nice day!