A Yes Needs Somewhere to Live...and...

Have you ever said yes and then wondered where it would fit?

Into your schedule that is...

You meant it when you said yes.

Perhaps it was a new responsibility, a promise to someone you care about or an opportunity you did not want to miss.

And if you are like me, saying yes may reflect how you see yourself and who you believe yourself to be.

The dependable one.

The person who helps.

The one who can be counted on.

The one who can be relied upon.

The person who finds a way, even when life is already full.

Saying yes can feel like an expression of your values, generosity and commitment to others. It can feel so closely connected to your identity that questioning whether you have the capacity may feel as though you are questioning who you are.

But then life continues.

The meetings remain in your calendar.

The deadlines do not disappear.

The responsibilities you already carry still require your attention.

And now, your carefully considered yes must compete with everything that was already in place.

So perhaps the question is not only:

“Should I say yes?”

Perhaps we must also ask:

“If I say yes, where will this commitment live?”

Because saying yes may take only a moment.

Honouring that yes requires it to be remembered, as well as given the time, attention, capacity and support it needs.

A Thoughtful Yes Still Needs a Home

There have been times when I have said yes for all the right reasons.

I believed in what I was agreeing to, and I genuinely intended to follow it through.

But no time had been protected for it.

Nothing had been moved.

No support had been requested.

And perhaps most importantly, I had assumed I would simply remember.

But memory is not always a reliable home for a commitment, especially when our attention is divided and life continues to place new demands upon us.

It is possible to care deeply about something and still lose sight of it.

It is possible to have every intention of following through and still need a reminder, protected time or another person to help us remain connected to what we decided.

My yes had entered my life, but I had not created anything to hold it.

I had expected memory and good intentions to carry a commitment that needed greater structure.

That was when I began to understand:

A thoughtful yes still needs a practical home!!

The Truth

Being dependable is not only about giving your yes.

It is also about creating what you need to remember it, make room for it and honour it.

Perhaps you have a meaningful commitment in your life right now that has not been given a clear place to land.

Where could you make it visible?

What might help you remember and return to it?

Does something else need to move or wait?

Is there someone who could help you carry it?

These questions are not intended to make your yes feel heavier.

They are an invitation to give what matters a genuine opportunity to succeed.

If you are finding it difficult to follow through, it does not automatically mean you are unreliable, unmotivated or incapable.

Perhaps your yes simply needs somewhere to live so it can be followed through!

#IChoose

#IChoose to give my yes somewhere to live and the support it needs to be followed through.

I will not assume that a meaningful commitment will automatically fit into my life or remain in my memory.

I will create room for what I have chosen.

If You Remember One Thing From This…

A meaningful yes does not only need intention. It needs somewhere to live so it can be followed through.

Today, I am grateful that I can give my yes somewhere to live.

Because remembering it and creating room for it helps me follow through on what I have chosen.

Pause. Choose. Make room. Follow it through.

If you are carrying commitments that genuinely matter to you but are struggling to give them the structure they need, perhaps the question is not:

“Why can’t I manage everything?”

Perhaps the better question is:

“What support would help me remain connected to what I have chosen?”

What is one meaningful yes in your life or work that currently needs somewhere to live and be followed through?

Ponder...

If this resonates with you, I would love to hear from you. Let’s explore what could help you move from intention to reliable follow-through.

With Gratitude,

Your Friend and Coach,

Annabel