Wait For Your Authentic YES
an intuitive practice for Mercury retrograde
All things social media have currently lost their luster for me.
I’m including Substack because for as unique as it truly is (a platform especially for writers, thinkers, yay!) it also shares commonalities with other channels by having financially motivated popularity algorithms.
I love writers getting paid, and I love hearing their success stories, yet asking for this constant hustle from me waters down the good work that is out there, and it doesn’t feel authentically aligned with what I’ve learned I need to create my own best work and life. I won’t push subscriptions. Get a subscription if it feels like a YES for you. I also won’t promise x number of outputs for a subscription, because I want to write when I want to write.
I’ve discovered that when I act from my Authentic YES, everything is so much yummier. My writing is easier. Life feels good. All things flow well.
What is your Authentic YES? The yummy feeling of only doing what you feel 100% called to do. It is being unwilling to compromise your joy.
In practice:
A friend passes through town, and they reach out to see if you’re free for dinner. The minute you see their text message you feel your shoulders and jaw tense up. That’s a clear NO. You don’t feel a YES. You let them know it’s not going to work out for you this time.
Someone raves about their experience with a healer. Everything in your body resonates with what they are saying, like all your tiny little cells are dancing. You feel expanded, open, and you immediately want to book a session with them. That’s a big YES! *note: If you are empathic, you may want to ask yourself if you’re just feeling their feelings, first.
You are going home for a visit. There are plenty of things you genuinely want to do, and plenty of people who want to see you. You need to manage your time, so you take time to feel into each person for your authentic YES - a feeling of enthusiasm and “I WANT!”. You decide to only get in touch with those who viscerally light you up.
A work promotion arises. You know it would be a big step up for you, offering you an increase in authority, salary. But you’d be working for someone you don’t like. Is this an authentic YES? You check-in and underneath all the excitement you have a feeling of dread. NO, it is not. You are looking for an “I’m all in.” Until you’re all-in, you wait for the authentic YES… because you know you can get it elsewhere.
This is how waiting for your Authentic YES looks, in practice. It is literally a practice. You decide to pause, to feel into things. You decide to slow down. You decide to listen to your body; you ask a question and listen with your whole self. Then, you decide you will ONLY act on the all-in YES.
It occurred to me that sharing my process with you, around writing here on Substack (and how I approach all social media) might be interesting to you, and offer you some new insights. I will only post a piece of writing when I feel an authentic YES. When I act only from my YES, I find I’m in intuitive flow. I experience magic, ease, grace…and things show up in beautiful ways that I wouldn’t have even been able to conceive - had I done that other thing.
Wait for your Authentic YES: A Step-by-Step
1. Facing a decision? Slow way down, take a pause.
2. Come back into your body. Listen to your Embodied Awareness.
3. Ask: Do I want this? Listen to your answer with your WHOLE BEING.
Feelings and sensations for NO: tightness, tension, congestion, nothing at all (that’s: it holds no energy for me), boredom, neutrality, maybe (NOPE).
Feelings and sensations for YES: whoop!, resonance, excitement, enthusiasm, “I can’t imagine not doing this!”, joy, bliss, pure pleasure.
4. If it’s not a YES… it’s a NO.
5. If it’s a NO… then be willing to wait for the YES. It’s so worth it!
As mentioned, Mercury is currently retrograde now (8/5-8/28): This is a good time to reflect, and go slowly. Why? When the magician planet takes a “pause”: liminality, slowing down, and reimagining things anew has big YES juice. Go over old ground, take your time, reimagine how to best get what you want. This is the time to get clearer on how to co-create your best life.
Does this practice sound easy? Do you do this? Or does it sound difficult?
I’m genuinely curious.
Jessica,
I loved this post. First, about social media in general and substack in particular. I wanted to contribute because I love your work, BUT I also felt that if I didn't contribute I wouldn't get to see your posts.
I fully support your decision to only write when you feel called, inspired and ready to do so. For me, I feel that I am getting the best of who you are when YOU make the YES decision to write what really matters to you, what you are passionate about enough to share.
Second, I am paying more and more attention to my yes and no responses to making decisions and understanding my desires and wants. I love that you share so much of your process, and I know that it comes from your heart.
Thank you from my heart to yours. ❤️
What good timing! I’ve been reflecting on situations recent and long past where I have and have not followed my intuition- and the results. I’ve had to make a lot of decisions this summer and I’ve tried to practice this process. You have taught me about right timing and self-honesty, but I realize that at times I still get caught up in hurry/anxiety to make quick decisions not waiting for a Yes AND getting caught in old conditioning to go along with others' ideas. Today I was struck by “Decide to ONLY act on all-in yes.” I’ve now decided and I’m determined to make it so. Thank You!