The Art of Asking

“Listening to your heart is not simple … It takes a lot of courage to get to know who you are and [ask for] what you want.”  Sue Bender

Many people are afraid to ask for help for fear of being judged or laughed at. Others just have no idea that asking is an option.

Whatever your belief, speaking the truth FROM YOUR HEART is a way of honoring your individuality. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.

Just be sure to do it correctly. There is an ART to ASKING for what you want. Be conscious and mindful before you begin. Think to yourself, “Is my request heart-based?”  Really examine it and make sure it is not contaminated with hidden anger, annoyance or impatience. 

Then acknowledge the person your asking in a kind way, and be prepared for whatever the answer is, yes or no. Realize that not everyone is walking the same path.

If you are asking another person to change a behavior, do not blame them for the current circumstances. Begin with something positive, then say “it would really help me if … “ or “I need your support with …” Some people are open to this, others are not.  This doesn’t mean you needs will not be met.


In fact, by simply looking into your heart and asking for help you are honoring your AUTHENTIC SELF.  By doing so you are giving yourself the POWER to take care of yourself. This is the magic of the journey of the heart.

This week take the time to be grateful for individuality. Honor WHO YOU REALLY are by listening to your heart, reaching out to others, asking for help when you need it and observing how this makes a difference in your everyday life.

“There is an Indian saying that everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room each day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person.”



I am compelled to write about love even though it is the month of May. But I know that this is also the month that we celebrate Mothers Day and so it really isn’t too far off to talk about love.

Relationships with ones Mother can be very complex.  I have a much respect, love and admiration for my mother, and she for me but sometimes our communication doesn’t necessarily portrait that. I am a mother of two beautiful teenage children and I know that at times we experience our own rough patches. For me being mother has been an opportunity to learn and grow and expand in ways I would have never imagined. My children have taught me that I shouldn’t ever get stuck on the small stuff if I want us to hang out and have some fun  and laughs together. They taught me that there are many ways to do one thing and that my way isn’t always the best! In other words "give up the control".  They taught me how to hug and kiss them with reckless abandon.  My advice should only be given when asked for, and I am only here to guide and encourage them to be their best and biggest self. One of the biggest lesson by far is that I can’t prevent them from making their own mistakes. You can’t gain experience and wisdom in life if you don’t make mistakes. It’s an unwritten law somewhere I’m sure. Even though mistakes can cause disappointment we don't automatically stop loving the people we care about because they made a mistake.
We are all  a work in progress and let's face it we didn't learn to walk without falling quite a few times.

So what do you do when you know you've made a mistake or failed at something you've attempted?  Do you hide under the covers?  Do you blame other people? Do you give up?  Why not try walking into one of those other rooms in your house to see if you can't get a new perspective.   Love yourself the way you would love a friend or a loved one who needs some extra encouragement and support?  Look at all the different ways you could try again.  You owe it to yourself to try a new game plan if the one you have been using isn't getting you the happiness you deserve!  There is a big world out there just waiting for you, go ahead crack open the door!

Intuition

“Intuition is a spiritual faculty, and does not explain, but simply points the way.” Florence Scovel Shinn

One of my favorite excerpts is from Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book Simple Abundance. In it she talks about intuition. Anthropologist Margaret Mead calls it “the age-long training in human relations.”

Webster’s dictionary defines it as instinctive knowledge or an unexplained perception. It is also known as the sixth sense.

While some will debate the existence of intuition, I know that it exists. I use mine all the time. Do you use yours? Have you learned how to tune in to your inner instinct - that undefined part of you that’s constantly transmitting signals?

Some people call them hits, others tell me fairies whisper in their ear … Breathnach says it’s the subliminal sense of Spirit that allows us to maneuver safely through life.

Are you tuned in to your guiding Spirit? If not, try this … think of yourself as a radio … set your dial to the intuitive station and listen. Are you picking up the signal clearly or are you just getting static? One way to know is to follow your ‘gut.’ Pay attention and you will find that frequently your body will have a physical reaction to a situation. Tune in to this … let it lead you and your life will transform.

Intuitive knowing has been around for a while. In 1946 Katharine Butler Hathaway, a feminist author notoriously guided by her Spirit, wrote this just before she died, “It is only by following your deepest instinct that you can lead a rich life. If you let your fear of consequence prevent you from following your deepest instinct then your life will be SAFE, EXPEDIENT and THIN.”

Conversely, following your instincts, or your inner knowledge, can help your arrive at the right place at the right time. When you tap in to your intuition, you tap into the flow of the Universe allowing miraculous synchronicity to happen.

Starting today go within and seek guidance from your authentic Self. Follow your gut on a regular basis and eventually this sixth sense will enhance your life just a richly as the other five senses do.