Today’s Mandala Message: What’s the Cost of Not Asking?
This week I’m working through Principles #17 and #18 from Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” entitled “Ask! Ask! Ask!” and “Reject Rejection” respectively. I set my intention today to ponder the cost of not asking for what I want. As a way to process the pros and cons of “not asking”, Canfield suggests: “…make a list of the things that you want that you don’t ask for… Next to each one, write down how you stop yourself from asking. What is your fear? Next, write down what it is costing you not to ask. Then write down what benefit you would get if you were to ask.”
Off the top of my head, not asking means I usually have to figure things out for myself, projects take longer to do, and I may end up tossing out the project. My fears would include: I don’t want to be a bother to people, fear of rejection, and fear of me and/or my project being judged negatively. The biggest benefit of asking would be that I’d actually get what I wanted and probably a whole lot more.
One principle I think most of us forget (I know this to be true for me) is that most people want to be helpful. It gives them great joy to do so. Think about how good we feel when we help others, that’s how others could feel when they are able to help us.
So how about you? What stops you from asking for what you want? What fear or fears stop you? What is it costing you not to ask?
“There is no shame
— Laura Lane
in asking for help;
it is one the most courageous
things you’ll ever do
and will lead to greater connection
with those around you.”
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
Mandala of the Day 