Wishing or Asking

Create a New Normal

Reflections

• Consciously create your one great life •

Weekly message about creating your new normal

Judy Panek, MS, CPCC

Certified Professional Co-Active Coach

February 5, 2010

Dear Creators,

Here is what I have been thinking about this morning: Wishing and Asking. Are they the same thing? What’s the difference? And, what is there for us to gain in discerning the difference?

You can probably tell from the questions that reflecting on wishing and asking has led me to consider them as being two different things. And, being aware of this may be helpful in some ways.

Wishing is big and a bit vague. It is not connected with our sense of reality...we wish upon a star....wish we could win the lottery....wish for our dreams to come true. Wishing is done without any attachment to real outcomes. There is not the expectation of action, commitment – even clarity. We can wish in a very unfocused – general way. It can be kind of fun... (here’s the big but), but there is something about holding a desire as a wish that puts it in a category of “would be nice – never gonna happen.”

Asking is different. By the time we have a desire in the form of asking it has more clarity. Asking is more specific; even when we are asking God/the Universe, asking for guidance or intuition. We may ask for resolution for a conflict we are experiencing, we may ask for guidance around a decision we are facing, we may ask for patience, for inner peace. We ask and then we go about our business - holding on to anticipation for what we have asked to show up in some form. Our challenge is to recognize it when it shows up. Often what we ask for shows up in unexpected ways.

With asking we also have the opportunity to align our thoughts, beliefs and actions. I ask for clarity around a decision and I distinguish the thoughts and questions that are confusing. This can help me recognize the actions I can take to answer these questions, seek out the information I need to help me make the decision. It can also open the door to asking others for help, advice, information that will also aid me in this process.

I am curious about your experience with asking. Children are great at asking. Adults aren’t always so comfortable with asking for what they want. What do you notice about this?

Asking you to think about this,

Judy

Are you consciously creating your life?