Why You Should Say 'Yes' More Step out of your comfort zone and agree to something you'd normally turn down.

I'll bet you could use a lot more yes in your life. Everyone could, really. Think about it: What would our country be like if Republicans and Democrats said about the economy, "Yes, we can work this out"? How many more of us could shed unwanted pounds by adding four more letters to yes to say, "Yes, I can"? And how much more could we learn from our children by saying, "Yes?" instead of "What?!" when they yell for mommy or daddy?

This past year, no one explained the chain reaction of progress sparked by the word yes better than Eric Schmidt, Google's executive chairman, during his commencement address at the University of California at Berkeley:

"Find a way to say yes to things. Say yes to invitations to a new country. Say yes to meeting new friends. Say yes to learning a new language, picking up a new sport. Yes is how you get your first job, and your next job. Yes is how you find your spouse, and even your kids. Even if it's a bit edgy, a bit out of your comfort zone, saying yes means you will do something new, meet someone new and make a difference in your life, and likely in others' lives as well. … Yes is a tiny word that can do big things. Say it often."