You can achieve virtually anything you want; if you’re willing to hear ‘no’ often enough. ~Andrea Waltz 

People are often afraid to ask for fear of hearing No. It takes courage to move out of our comfort zones and risk receiving a No, so many do whatever they can to avoid it. But, unfortunately, by staying where we feel safe, we relinquish the possibility of greatness, and instead, we settle for mediocrity.

By avoiding stretching our potential, we live in a world of false hope that things can be different. The funny thing is, once you ask, you know, and sometimes the No is not wrong.

Although we often take No as a negative answer, it can often be the opposite. A No can open up the future to opportunities unseen.

Sometimes to hear No is good. Waiting for the diagnosis from our doctor, hearing No, you are all clear is the answer we wished for.

While Yes, has a happy feeling of generosity, creativity, and success, this one small word, No, holds many worries and rejections. No is often associated with negativity and criticism, yet, a No can indicate a change of direction is needed.

No’s can be helpful: A No can show us something that is not meant to be. No ‘s can alert us of needed boundaries or keep us on track with our dietary needs, saying No to the extra serving or the jelly donut.

Our bodies sometimes get involved with telling us No, when the hairs on the back of our neck raise to alert us to danger or our gut feeling, which is just a No in disguise, tells us to stop.

When we conclude that No will be the answer, we may ask the question with the wrong intent. Sometimes upon hearing the dreaded No, we personalize it as a direct affront to who we are instead of understanding a No is just an option we have not considered.

Taking No for an answer has its time and place; there is no defeat in hearing that word that holds so much energy. However, when we look at it with different eyes, a No is a precaution to indicate we need to veer to another path.

While the power of saying, No is the backbone to guard against exploitation, hearing No is also a safeguard. It can alert us the universe is not quite ready for what we are offering or that what we are offering is not quite prepared for the world.

I am one to challenge authority. When told something is impossible, I look to see how to make it possible, and when given No as a response, I question it. I don’t doubt that the answer is right or wrong; instead, I ask myself how I could rephrase something or make an adjustment. The No is always an opportunity to learn and grow.

By questioning the No, we turn on our brains to reassess. As long as we don’t fall down the rabbit hole of self-doubt, the No can propel us to make other choices. Often the benefits will far surpass the original expectations. Because it is a No today doesn’t mean it is forever,

During a long-term relationship, a man proposed to me, and I said, No. Shortly after, we split. Within months he found the woman that said Yes. She was the woman destiny had in store for him. My No became the impetus for him to find his Yes.

No’s allow us to find what is in step with who we are at this precise moment because, at the moment’s click, a No might change to a Yes.

The next time you hear a No, do not fret. The No is to let you know something else is in store for you elsewhere. Refrain from personalizing it, understanding that a door that doesn’t open when knocked on is not your door. Instead, readjust your perspective and ask yourself what you can learn from this, then change your outlook, alter your stance, clear your mindset and move on.

If you don’t ask then the answer is always no

~ Nora Roberts