Ever watched an improv show and thought, How are they making this up on the spot?

Professional actors ask the audience for a scene, a theme, a situation — and then, showtime. Two hours later, it somehow feels like a fully scripted play.

So how do they do it?

Aside from years of training, there's one principle that makes it all possible: Yes And.

The actors don’t know what’s coming next. But they treat every sentence as an invitation.

When one actor says, “My mother’s getting surgery next week,” the other doesn’t argue. They might respond with, “I know — she asked me to knit her a recovery blanket.” And then another adds, “That’s brave of you, considering your wool allergy.”

What don’t they do? They don’t shut ideas down. No one says, “That’s not true — she’s not getting surgery, she’s having a wedding.” That would kill the scene.

Yes And means accepting what’s offered — and building on it.

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What if we applied that same principle to our lives?

Someone invites you to a party. You see a book that catches your eye. A friend tells you to apply for a job. You feel the urge to speak to someone new. These are all little invitations.

When you say Yes And, you collaborate with life — co-creating the story as it unfolds.

Of course, it’s not always easy. We’re not on a comedy stage. Life throws curveballs. Some “offers” don’t feel good or fair or even manageable.

But a Yes And mindset keeps the story going.

It’s not about giving in or giving up — it’s about acknowledging what’s real, and choosing to work with it.

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We’re all improvisers here, whether we like it or not. None of us knows exactly what’s coming next.

Yes And means acknowledging reality — not resisting it, but working with it.

So the next time life makes you an offer — whether it’s an invitation you like, or a twist you didn’t ask for — pause and ask yourself:

What does it mean to say Yes And to this?

How can I respond like a great improviser would?

Say Yes And — and see what scene unfolds next.