In the movie Yes Man, Jim Carrey plays the part of an unhappy man who decides to change his life by saying “yes” to whatever comes his way. Although he eventually runs into some problems, accepting opportunities has mostly beneficial effects.

It’s no secret that if you want to improve your financial position or alter the course of your life, you need to behave differently and respond to life in a way you haven’t done in the past. It’s also true that solutions to problems often present themselves as opportunities.

So the question is, are you saying “yes” to opportunities that come your way, or do you find excuses for avoiding the unfamiliar? Do you resist meeting new people, unfamiliar situations, or taking on responsibilities that have uncertain outcomes?

During the last week, what have you avoided that you could have embraced? What opportunities, no matter how small, have you said “no” to instead of yes?

The big question is, are you a “yes person” or in “no person?” People who have a yes attitude, are accepting of their lives, and are open to what comes along often have outcomes that are not completely positive. But because they have a yes attitude, they are willing to keep trying because they know that eventually everything will work out.

People with a no attitude, often miss a lot of life’s pleasures through their skepticism and habitual judgments of themselves and others. They don’t expect much from life, and rarely get it. Although saying “no” and rarely taking chances appears to keep them safe, that safety comes with a big price tag in terms of enjoyment and potential achievement.

Raise Your Yes Rating

Here are some things you can do to move yourself from wherever you are to a yes position:

As you move through your day, try to remember to say yes. Make the word yes your mantra. Try it for a few moments right now, just repeat to yourself, yes, yes, yes. Notice how yes makes you feel. Don’t try to change the feeling, just notice it.

When you go for your daily walk or exercise (you do that, don’t you?), say the word yes in tune with the cadence of your movements. You can combine the word yes with phrases such as, “Yes I will,” or “Yes I can.”

Look in the mirror, smile, and say “yes.”

If someone asks you to do something that is within your realm of capabilities, notice if your default reaction is “no.” Even though it may be out of character, the next time you are asked, say “yes.”

If you struggle with underearning or debting, I hope you’ll say “yes” and attend the upcoming teleclass, End Underearning & Debting on May 26, 2010! For information, visit www.EndUnderearning.com.