Life is full of questions. Some are simple — “Tea or coffee?”, “Bus or cab?”, “Movie or book?” But some questions make our hearts race — “Should I take this job?”, “Do I confess my feelings?”, “Do I stay, or do I go?”
Two tiny words — Yes and No — hold the power to change everything.
Let me tell you a little story.
Last year, my friend Ankita was offered a job in another city — better pay, great exposure, and a chance to grow. Everyone around her said, “Say Yes! It’s the kind of opportunity people wait years for.” But Ankita hesitated. Her parents lived alone, her younger brother was still in school, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready to leave home just yet.
For weeks, she was torn between excitement and guilt. Every time she thought of saying Yes, she imagined her parents at the dinner table, missing her chatter. And every time she thought of saying No, fear crept in — “What if this was my only chance to do something big?”
One quiet evening, she sat in the garden with her father, lost in thought. The air was still, the sky turning a soft orange. Her father looked at her and said, “Sometimes, No is not the end of a dream. It’s just a way of saying ‘Not now.’”
Those simple words stayed with her. That night, Ankita declined the offer — gently, but firmly. She stayed back, spent a year teaching at a local school, and discovered her true calling in education. She realized she loved shaping young minds far more than climbing a corporate ladder. Months later, she received another offer — this time, to work on a project training teachers across India. And this time, she said Yes.
That’s when she realized — life isn’t about always choosing Yes or No. It’s about recognizing what feels right at that moment.
- Saying Yes opens doors. Saying No protects peace.
- Saying Yes leads to growth. Saying No guards your boundaries.
The world often tells us that Yes is brave and No is negative — but in truth, both require courage. One asks you to take a leap of faith; the other asks you to trust yourself enough to stand still.
- Say Yes when your heart leaps with excitement.
- Say No when your soul whispers it’s not meant for you.
- Say Yes to opportunities that lift you.
- Say No to things that drain you.
Sometimes, saying Yes changes your world. Sometimes, saying No saves it.
In the end, it’s not about pleasing others or following expectations. It’s about listening to yourself — really listening — and standing by what you decide. Because every Yes and No shapes the story of who you become.
And sometimes, the most powerful answer isn’t the one others expect — it’s the one that gives you peace.
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– Dr. Arwa Saifi
About the Writer
Dr. Arwa Saifi is an acclaimed Career Writer with over 18 years of experience in the literary and education space. Honoured with an Honorary Doctorate in Literature, she is also an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. Her career includes contributions to Education Times, a supplement of The Times of India, where she brought her expertise to one of the country’s leading newspapers.
Dr. Saifi has served as the editor of several prestigious school and college magazines in Mumbai, shaping young voices and nurturing a culture of expression. She is the author of 10 published books and has collaborated as a co-author in more than 40 anthologies. Her work reflects a deep commitment to storytelling, education, and empowering aspiring writers.
