Picture this.

It is 6:00 am. Im sitting on my deck on the east side of our home. The sun is shining brightly in the clear blue sky. The grass is green. The cows are lazing in the pasture. The birds are singing gleefully in the surrounding trees. I see and hear only nature at its finest. Ah, country life!

I am saying my affirmations to myself. These are statements that I say to myself everyday to help me keep my life on track. They are positive, present tense statements about qualities that I aspire to live by (not necessarily how I have lived my life in the past). I find that as I say these statements; thats how my life ismost of the time.

I, Dan, attract to me all that I truly want. Its OK for me to ask for what I want and I always do so, easily and appropriately.

Now fast-forward about 4 hours and Im entering Wal Mart. To me it seems like 40 acres of stuff, piled to the rafters in many places. Im looking for one tiny little spark plug for my lawn mower. This country boy feels a bit overwhelmed in this place. There are hundreds of people bustling here and there, bumping into each other, carts overloaded with clothes, food and boxes piled up so high that I can hardly see the driver.

And Im looking for one tiny little spark plug!

A gentleman at the door shoves a cart to me like it is a tool required for entry. Sensing my hesitation he asks that age-old customer service question that weve all heard thousands, maybe millions of times, May I help you?

Before my conscious mind can kick into gear, these words blurt out of my mouth. Nope, just looking. I take the cart and start down the aisle.

In the past, I would have wandered around for half and hour, or more, trying to logically figure out where I would find one tiny little spark plug. I may or may not have found it. Likely I would have been tempted by the stuff, which is exceptionally well marketed. Stuff that I didnt need or want but, Its on sale.

Its a good deal.

I better have one of these gadgets. Heck, I better take 4 of them for that price.

Ive got the cart so I better put something in it.

There would have been a 5 or 10 minute wait in the cashier lane to conveniently pick up a pack of gum (or 2), some of those neat candies and maybe a magazine to find out the truth about how Oprah lost all of that weight.

As I would get to my car, Id be thinking, You knuckle-head! You got sucked into the consumerism marketing trapagain!

But this time, I took a couple of steps down the aisle and thought, What am I doing? What did I say to myself this morning about asking? How can I live those desired traits by doing what I have always done? Ive got better things to do with my time than to waste it here!

I turned about and gave the cart back. Sir, all I want and need is a spark plug for my lawn mower. Could you please tell me where I can find one?

Far corner in the hardware department. I believe spark plugs are about the 3rd row from the wall.

Thanks. Like a shot, I was gone. Im on a mission. In less than 5 minutes I had my spark plug, was through the express checkout lane and back to my car.

Yeah! Asking is easy!

Asking is easy! Asking for what we want can be a powerful way to build our self-confidence, assertiveness and keep us on track. I have had many experiences where I was frustrated, worried and was wasting time by trying to figure things out and do things on my own. Ive also had many experiences of receiving knowledge, help, advice and material things simply because I asked. Asking is easy!

We live in a world of customer service. Every job or business that I can think of is about serving others in some way. It is a gift and an honour to serve another human being.

Why then, would we take that opportunity, that right to give, away from others by not asking for their help; for what we truly want?

Think about your life. Think about your relationships with your partner, children, family, friends and colleagues.

Do you ask specifically and clearly for what you want?

Do you feel that you have to do everything on your own?

Do you think you need to know it all?

Do you disable others by taking away their right to serve you?

Asking is easy! I challenge you to give it a go. You will like the results.