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Once you become an observer of your self-listening by practicing with the radio or TV, you may begin to wonder, what would happen if I began doing yes…and… in a conversation in my daily life? What if I choose to respond with yes…and… to my family, friends, and co-workers?

Try it. What have you got to lose? It is really very simple.

When someone makes a statement, experiment by saying yes, and then agreeing.

Just set yourself up with an experiment and decide that the next time you walk into the house, room or office; you are going to experiment to responding to your mate, mother, or friend with yes…and….

I have encouraged people in my workshops to try this and the stories that have evolved from the practice are truly amazing and often funny.
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The advantage of practicing yes…and…in a workshop is that the whole group has agreed to play in objectifying life. In a workshop if one player says; Hey, baby you wanna come home with me? The yes…and…result is much safer than real life. Fortunately, there are many common places in your everyday conversation where playing with yes… and… will not affect your morals and safety.

You can have fun doing this with your family or a friends; you can agree to play yes…and… together just by setting up the rules that when one person makes a statement the other will say yes and add to it. Next time you are having a conversation with a friend or co-worker, try keeping yes in your mind as you listen. As you move into agreement with what you are hearing, you are hearing the details of the message, just as you did in the first exercise, before it becomes clouded with judgment and analysis.

Try to follow up by responding with agreement. You are moving through doors of listening that would be closed if your head were filled with thoughts of what-will-I-say-next and judgments. Try to just hold yes as you listen and see how a new door opens as you listen in agreement.

If you find yourself with a friend at the mall, try playing yes…and … just for the fun of it. You may discover how this little game will lighten up one of those hurry-up-and-wait moments like when you and a friend are stalled in life at a bus stop or food line.

If you want to ease the strain and discomfort of a first date, ask your date to play yes…and… with you. Much of the self-consciousness and fumbling will transform the experience as self-conscious thoughts of judgment and concern are evaporated in a fun and playful game.

You might stop reading right now, close the book, and provided you are in a place where there are other people, you can decide to communicate using yes…and… – right now.

YES… try it – AND… have fun.