The Power of “Yes”: Why Yes is Such A Powerful Word – By Evelyn Chen

“If we wait until we are ready, we will be waiting for the rest of our lives.”
– Lemony Snicket and my ex-boyfriends 😊

I do not disagree!

We constantly find ourselves stuck in this holding pattern, waiting for the “right moment” or the “perfect circumstance.” But honestly, what is the right moment for us to take action? The truth is, some of the best things in life never happen simply because we waited too long.

I have a friend, Nick, who waited to propose to his lifelong girlfriend for what felt like eternity; 16 years, to be exact. He kept saying he needed to wait for the perfect time: after he owned a house, a better car, moved up the corporate ladder and so on. Inevitably, she got tired of waiting and left. She is now happily married with two beautiful children, while Nick, despite being a very successful man with the houses and cars he had always wanted, remains single. I think he regrets waiting, though he will never admit it to us. And in case you are wondering, she absolutely would have said “Yes” if he had just asked.

The thing is, the word “Yes” is more than just polite acquiescence; psychologically, it is the immediate, perfect antidote to that awful paralysis by analysis that holds us all hostage. When we keep putting things off, waiting until we are absolutely “ready,” we are really just feeding our fear of failure. But throw a “Yes” out there, and your brain instantly flips the script, moving you from that cramped, fearful fixed mindset right into a powerful growth mindset. That single word generates the initial momentum required to start, building our belief in ourselves (our self-efficacy) with every step we take.

In many situations, the simple word YES could truly be life-altering.

Now, I have always been a go-getter. In fact, I can’t remember a time when I declined added responsibility, a promotion or anything that was clearly going to open doors to a brighter, more successful future. Every opportunity presented to me was always received with a “Yes.” Was I afraid? Absolutely! Indubitably! Was I going to let the opportunities pass me by? No chance! That is the simple, honest cycle that changed everything for me: You commit with a “Yes,” and then you hustle like crazy to make sure you succeed. That is how the word Yes becomes truly mega powerful.

I don’t always say Yes to everything outside my career though! Believe it or not, I am actually a careful person. I blame my parents for that! They are the type (like most Chinese parents, I suspect) that would absolutely murder me if I made a mistake or behave inappropriately (in their eyes) that is going to jeopardise their carefully built reputation. As a result of this I became super careful in every other area of decision-making.

For instance, when I was younger, a group of friends planned a holiday to Paris. It was going to be fabulous, full of bourgeois life, le vin, and les hommes, but it meant skipping summer school. All I had to do was say “Yes.” But I was petrified! Terrified that I’d have too much fun and lose the motivation to finish my postgraduate studies; terrified of how my behaviour in France would affect my parents; and honestly, terrified of what the entire Kuching community would say if they heard I was smooching with all the hunks in Paris! I said no.

Did I save my parents’ reputation and finish my studies? Yes, I did. But 40 years from now, am I really going to remember that summer school class? Nope. I will remember the friends I let down, the le vin I never got to drink and the handsome Parisian hunks I never got to smooch. The cost of that “No” wasn’t a diploma; it was a memory. And that is the real trap: we often delay or deny ourselves the truly life altering experiences, personal adventures and memorable mistakes just because we are waiting for external permission or internal readiness.

So, what’s the real lesson here? It is not about saying “Yes” to every single thing; that’s just crazy. It’s about recognising the difference between productive fear and paralysing fear. When an opportunity aligns with your core goals, the risk of saying “No” is almost always greater than the risk of saying “Yes.” Nick lost his entire future because he prioritised being ready over being brave. I lost a great memory because I prioritised reputation over experience. In both cases, the waiting, the hesitation; cost us something irreplaceable.

The power of “Yes” lies in its ability to force action, create momentum and generate memories. It is the single most effective word you can use to break free from the invisible prison of “later” and the paralysing pressure of “perfect.” Don’t wait until you’re ready; choose to be brave. Choose your “Yes.” Choose your life.

Words to learn

eternity – an infinite amount of time that never ends

inevitably – as one would expect; predictably

acquiescence – the acceptance of something without protest

momentum – the impetus gained by a moving object

indubitably – without a doubt; certainly

jeopardise – put (someone or something) into a situation in which there is a danger of loss, harm or failure

bourgeois – belonging to or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitude

petrified – so frightened that one is unable to move; terrified

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