IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO SAY YES

I had an epiphany about seven years ago while I was doing EastEnders about how fear can hold you back without you realising it. It happened because someone innocently asked me if fear had ever stopped me doing things in life, and without thinking I said: ‘No.’ But then I realised it wasn’t true. Fear was a big part of my life and had defined many choices.

I had always been more likely to say no to things than yes. But I never thought of it as being fear. Now I realised it was. This had affected many things in my life, from big career opportunities to more personal issues.

While at drama school, one of my tutors was connected to a film production Stanley Kubrick was doing and the teacher told them about me.

I was asked to call as Stanley wanted to meet me. When I finally got round to it weeks later, the production secretary said they had waited for my call, but when they never heard, they went ahead and cast someone else in the part.

I was working long hours when this epiphany was triggered. I decided to be honest about fear, then go ahead and do the things I wanted to do anyway. I started saying yes to opportunities, and my life rapidly changed.

I had been thinking about starting a website about my passion for health and natural ageing. It terrified me because I wasn’t technically minded and had no idea how to write. But I did it anyway.

I have since co-written a best-selling diet book with nutritionist Fleur Borrelli, which we transformed into online diet plan The In-Sync diet.

I’ve realised no one has all the answers. Most people have no idea what they’re doing, but have a go anyway. Now I’m one of them.

Saying yes is empowering. I wish I’d started sooner.

Glynis and nutritionist Fleur Borrelli are founders of The in-sync Diet, an online weight loss programme (theinsyncdiet.com).