That’s not to say you should say no to everything (see my next point), but knowing your limits and feeling within your rights to say “not this time,” gets so much easier as you get older. 

Saying Yes

On the flip side, saying “yes” becomes much easier, too – especially when it comes to something that might make you uncomfortable or anxious, like trying something new that you might not succeed at. I think, when you’re younger, the fear of failing or looking ridiculous can paralyze you into staying in your comfort zone, but being an adult sort of forces you out of that safe space – it’s pretty much impossible to be a person in the world without failing at something, at some point. 

The good news is, trying new things, failing, and being uncomfortable are all things that help you grow. Whether you’re saying yes to a role with more responsibility at work, or to starting the blog or the Instagram or the Etsy store, or to singing Jolene at karaoke, trying new things and failing (or succeeding!) will help you grow and become more resilient. And, the more you fail, whether it’s at the small things or big things, the more the fear of failure diminishes… which in turn makes it easier to try new things! 

Saying “I’m Sorry”

Look, I’m a Capricorn and I can be stubborn af (ask my partner), so I never thought it would be easy for me to say that I’m wrong or that I’m sorry. But, just like failing, I’ve been wrong more times than I would like to recall, and it is much, much, much less painful in the long run to admit you’re wrong or say you’re sorry. The more you say you’re sorry, the easier it gets – and trust me, you’ll have a lot of chances to say you’re sorry the older you get.

Much like failing, I think when we’re younger we see making a mistake or hurting someone as a deep flaw in our character, rather than an unavoidable part of life. But owning up to mistakes is a sign of a mature, well-adjusted, and emotionally intelligent person, and learning to accept your flaws while taking responsibility for your actions is something that will get you farther in life than digging your heels in on everything.