When I first heard the phrase,

"If it’s not a Hell Yes, it’s a No,"

it sounded so powerful, but honestly? It also sounded… confusing.
How exactly was I supposed to know what a "Hell Yes" felt like when I had spent years operating from logic, planning, and fear?

For most of my twenties, my mind was in the driver's seat.
Career decisions were driven by "What makes sense?"
or "What looks good on my resume?"
Not once did anyone ask, "What lights you up?"

And in a world that glorifies overthinking, 5-year plans, and safe choices, tuning into excitement felt downright irresponsible.

It took a lot of falling on my face — changing roles, industries, even countries — before I realized the missing piece:
I wasn't actually listening to myself.

Why Following Your "Hell Yes" is the Only Sustainable Career Strategy

Neuroscience shows that decision-making isn't just rational; it's emotional.
The work of neuroscientist Antonio Damasio revealed that patients with brain damage in emotional areas struggled to make even the simplest decisions — proving that feelings aren't obstacles to good choices; they're essential.

From an Eastern lens, the Buddhist concept of "samskara" teaches us that our deepest desires and aversions shape our destiny — often without us realizing it. If we aren't aware of what excites or drains us, we keep repeating cycles that don't serve our higher path.

Translation?
If you want a life that feels aligned, joyful, and expansive, you have to listen to the whispers of your excitement.

My Journey: From Fearful "Maybe" to Full-Body "Hell Yes"

Early in my career, every decision felt heavy.
Should I stay? Should I leave? Should I pivot?
Analysis paralysis was my second language.

But when I started noticing small moments of true joy — whether it was mentoring someone, designing a new system, or building from scratch — I realized those moments weren't random. They were breadcrumbs leading me toward work that aligned with who I really was.

It wasn’t an overnight change.
It took tuning in daily, practicing awareness, and slowly permitting myself to prioritize what felt alive in me — not just what looked good on paper.

How to Practice Following Your "Hell Yes" (Starting Now)

✏️ Daily Exercise: Tracking Your Yes Moments

For the next 30 days (or however long you need), write down every single time you feel:

🔥 A spark of excitement 

⚡ A surge of energy 

🌟 A deep sense of "this feels right" 

It could be tiny:

• Organizing a team workshop and feeling giddy with ideas.

• Solving a complex problem and feeling your whole brain light up.

• Helping a new colleague and realizing, I actually love mentoring.

The point is: Notice. Track. Celebrate.

Why This Works: Building Your Career Like a Castle

Just like a castle is built brick by brick, a joyful career is built moment by moment.

If you spend 80% of your day doing things you enjoy,
your weeks, months, and years will naturally align with fulfillment — without forcing it.

This is how you build a career that feels like home.
Not through grand declarations, but through daily, joyful alignment.

Recognizing the Real "Hell Yes" — Signs from Mind, Body, and Spirit

Sometimes, identifying your "Hell Yes" is tricky — especially if you've been burned out, anxious, or stuck for a while.
Here's how to decode it:

(1) Feel Your Energy

• Are you naturally energized doing this work?

• Do you forget to check your phone because you’re in the zone?

If yes — that's a "Hell Yes" sign.

(2) Hard to Stop, Harder to Forget

• Does the task stay on your mind even after you log off?

• Would you choose to do this work in your free time?

When I built my first coaching templates, I was so obsessed I missed dinner — and I loved it. That’s a clue.

(3) Body Over Brain

• Expansion: You stand taller, you smile without trying, you breathe deeper.

• Contraction: Your shoulders tighten, and your energy feels dull.

Buddhist mindfulness teaches that the body is the first truth-teller. Your body often knows before your brain does.

(4) Would You Say Yes Again?

Ask:

• Would I volunteer to do this again?

• Would I even pay to do more of this?

If yes — listen.

Not Everything Will Be a Hell Yes (And That’s OK)

Some tasks (admin work, invoicing, bug tracking) will never thrill your soul.
But here’s the key: Optimize for as much Hell Yes as possible.

If 70-80% of your work lights you up, you’re winning.
The rest? Either reframe it (see it as fuel for your bigger mission) or delegate when you can.

Quick Reflection: Crafting Your "Hell Yes" Map

Exercise:

1. Today, what sparked a tiny joy in you?

2. What task drained your energy the most?

3. What conversations felt natural and exciting?

4. What would you volunteer to do again without being asked?

Keep a running list — this will become your compass for career design.

Final Thought: Following Your "Hell Yes" is Not Selfish — It's Sacred

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says:

“It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.”

Choosing excitement isn’t frivolous.
It’s your responsibility to honor the gifts you were uniquely born to share.
The more you follow what lights you up, the more you permit others to do the same.

So this week, when faced with a choice, a project, or a path…
Ask yourself:

Is this a full-body YES?
Or is it a fearful, half-hearted maybe?

The answer will change everything.