When was the last time you asked an important question or expressed a pressing need and was fully prepared to handle the answer? In a meeting recently about a prominent group I brought up the suggestion to make some “asks” known that could possibly help with some needs. The answer I received was that the perception publicly is that this group was not in need of help (so untrue), hence the reluctance of others to help. So essentially this group wasn’t asking for help and no one was asking to help them all because no knew that there were valid reasons to ask. What a conundrum! Yikes! How many times has your life or mine mirrored this situation where lack of communication starting with some good, old-fashioned questions was the road block to what lies ahead?

Lack of “asks” has lead to a lot of turmoil, drama, misunderstanding, untrue assumptions and missed opportunities. So much could be solved if we simply opened up our mouths and asked simple questions. I can hear my mother clearly growing up and even now often saying, “Just ask. All they can do is say no”. So, just ask.

• If you need help, just ask.
• If you want to help, just ask.
• If you want to know what a person really thinks of you, just ask.
• If you want to know why a person acted or reacted the way they did, just ask.
• If you want to know what you can do better, just ask.
• If you want to know what you’re doing well, just ask.
• If you want to see someone, just ask.
• If you want to know how a person is truly healing, dealing or feeling, just ask.
• If you want to know why a relationship or association changed, just ask.
• If you want to know if you are loved, liked, missed, thought of, prayer for, wanted or needed…or not, just ask.
• If you want to know anything, rather than assume, withdraw, disconnect, or operate in self-inflicted ignorance (and I mean ignorant as in void of facts) then, just ask.

Life would be so much easier if we were armed with the actual answers to our asks…not assumptions, random hypothesis, non-factual fathoms, guesses or the likes, but the truth that comes from the boldness of opening up and asking.

@AngelaMMoore316