Ask for what you
want, notice what you get. So many of our problems can be solved by such a
seemingly simple action.
No one else can
truly understand what is in our minds. The best they can do are successive
approximations based on our past behavior. Many well-intended actions by others are off
the mark, only because they were unclear about where the successful target
lies! The better someone knows us,
the more likely that his or her guesses about what we want will be correct. But
why not help them – and ourselves out – by asking for what we want?
From my own
experience and that of my clients, here are a few common reasons why we don’t
speak up.
- We’ve unclear about what we want. Say so! If you are unclear, chances of
your needs being met are infinitesimally small. Work through it together.
- Assumed they knew. If you aren’t getting what you want, change
an assumption into genuine information by speaking up.
- We want them to know us well enough to
guess correctly. I think
about this as the birthday present gotcha. If he/she truly loves me, they will
buy me the perfect gift. Give it up, adults! We are not ESP enabled beings,
even with people that we care about.
- Fearful that we still won’t get it / Fear
of rejection. It could be
that you still won’t get what you want, but at least you’ll know it wasn’t for
lack of trying on your part. Push through that mind-created fear, and your
chances of getting your needs met will rise. If not, it won’t be because they
are unknown.
Lastly, we
sometimes speak up but aren’t heard. Communicate in a way that suits the other
person’s needs if you want to be understood. Give to get, as it were.
Try this and
notice what happens. It will decrease the drama in your life and increase your
satisfaction.
© Karen D. Walker 2013