Asking is only half of it

You don’t get what you don’t ask for.  Many times we’re given surprise gifts from friends, family, strangers, or just the Universe in general.  But for the most part, if we actually want something, we need to ask for it, even if we just ask ourselves if this is something we’re actually going to do.  For example, there’s a Zumba class at the gym.  You want to take it, but the question is, are you willing to do it.  So you “Ask yourself” am I doing this today or this week or this month.

We hear this even more often around jobs, raises, opportunities, etc.  If you don’t ask for what you want you won’t get it, yadda, yadda, yadda.  How do you know you can’t get a raise?  How do you know that grant isn’t available?  How do you know you can’t go back to school?  How do you know you have no chance at that job?  You don’t know unless you ask.

However, asking is only half of the equation.  Once you’ve asked for something, you need to follow through.  Are you prepared to receive what you’re asking for or are you just going through the motions while “knowing” that it will never happen?  What happens if it actually does?  People are so afraid of change that they ask for things they want while making it nearly impossible for them to accept them once they arrive.  Need support while you goto school?  Out of the word work friend and neighbors and organizations make themselves available so that you have all you need.  Are you willing to accept the help?  Part time opportunities open up in your field so you get paid while you make connections and advance.  Are you ready to do the work?

So many times we ask for what we want, but reject the gift when it comes.  It doesn’t look the way we thought, it doesn’t come at the ‘right’ time, we’re too busy asking to hear the answer and so on.  Asking is only half of it.  We have to be open to hear the other side of the conversation.  We have to be willing to open our hands and our hearts to receive.  Because no one likes to be rejected, not even the Universe.  And if you ask, there will be an answer.  Are your eyes open to see it coming?