“If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” I vividly remember this being a playground chant, when I was a kid. I’m guessing you do, too?
But even now (a few decades on!), it still rings true. Though perhaps in a more subtle way.
It’s so easy to spend an entire lifetime, not asking for what we want – or need.
Maybe we’re embarrassed. Maybe we don’t think we’re worth it. Maybe we’re scared of not getting what we ask for. We all have our reasons – and habits!
Worse still, we’re great at being slaves to our past, thinking about all the things that have gone wrong…
The irony is that we’re really good at thinking about – and telling the world – what we don’t want!
“I don’t want to have to do that.”
“I don’t want to feel tired / sad / fed up any more.”
“I don’t want him / her to behave in that way.”
The problem with this is that we’re then giving all our energy, attention and personal power to the thing we don’t want.
And what happens?
We get more of it!
So what’s the answer?
Whenever we catch ourselves talking, or thinking, about what we don’t want, all we need to do is ask ourselves one little question, which will turn things around, giving us a route out of where we no longer want to be and a clear destination to aim for.
There’s a magic question that can set you free from the chains of the past.
And that question is… drum roll…
… what do I want instead?
5 little words with life-changing potential.
It instantly switches our focus. Instead of concentrating on everything that’s wrong, we suddenly see the possible solutions – or alternative pathways – or at least become open to seeing them.
And every time we catch ourselves slipping back into the grey and grim world of “I don’t want that!” the “What do I want instead?” question can bring you back to face the sunshine.
So how about trying it?
None of us is perfect, so there’s bound to be something in the life of everyone reading this that could do with a shift! Perhaps you’d like to apply it to a situation where you are stuck today?
If you get a chance to ask yourself this question today, what did you notice? What changed? Fancy sharing, via the comments box, below?
Know someone who could do with this technique? Please let them know about it – perhaps by sharing on Facebook or Twitter. 😉
Wishing you a day full of sunshine and laughter.
Namaste,
Clare
P.S. This article is taken from The Little Book Of Daily Sunshine ~ DailySunshine.com