Hey there, my friend,
It’s hard to write an uplifting message with so much going on in the world. There’s a hurricane bearing down on Florida, war and conflict in the Middle East, and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty in so many places.
How do we stay motivated and hopeful when it feels like the world is weighed down by tragedy? It’s not just hard to lead with optimism—sometimes it feels almost impossible.
And yet, here I am, trying to find the words that might help you navigate the challenges of your own life. This struggle mirrors the larger struggle we face: We live in a world that often feels binary—either this or that, good or bad, right or wrong. But what if we embraced a different perspective?
What if it was Yes, And...?
The “Yes, And...” principle comes from improv comedy. When performers are on stage, they never shut down a scene. Instead, they build upon it by saying “Yes, And.” It’s an approach that keeps the story going, no matter how unpredictable or challenging it might be. And it isn’t just for comedy. It’s a mindset we can all apply in our daily lives.
Here’s how it works: You acknowledge reality—Yes, there’s difficulty, Yes, there’s conflict—and you build on it. You add to the story, rather than letting it stop you. It’s not about ignoring the hard stuff, but about making room for something more—like hope, resilience, and the possibility that things can get better.
One of my favorite ways to keep hope alive, even in the face of challenges, is by looking for signs. I share a lot about this in my book Mastering the Moments, and specifically about the significance of the number 23 in my life—and how it was everywhere when I moved to Ohio last year (2023, of course).
Here’s what’s not in the book:
A couple of months ago, Megan and I were having breakfast in California. When we placed our order, they gave us a number to post at our table. It was 23.
How many details had to fall in place for us to get that number? Choosing that restaurant... leaving at the time we did to get there... doubling back to find a parking spot... If we had arrived 60 seconds earlier or later, someone else would have had it. But, 23 was ours.
Fast forward to last weekend—we were running a business errand and found ourselves in Louisville, the city where we had our first date almost exactly two years prior. When I picked up the receipt from our restaurant, I noticed the order had been placed at... 2:23 PM. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.
Then this morning, as I was making breakfast, I remembered I had left my workout timer running on my watch. When I glanced down, it showed 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 57 seconds. What if I had remembered just a few moment later?
Now, some might say these signs are just meaningless, random occurrences. But to me, they’re reminders that life is always speaking, always guiding us if we’re willing to listen. What signs could be personally meaningful to you?
Yes, there’s trouble and hardship. And—I believe life is good. I believe something awesome is always just around the corner. The “Yes, And” mindset is about holding space for both—the challenges and the beauty of life.
So today, I invite you to look for your own signs. Maybe it’s a number, a word, a moment. Something that reminds you that amidst the difficulty, life is still full of wonder.
Yes, life can be tough. And it can also be incredible.
Up we go—