Just Ask

Conversation is based on a statement and then a rebuttal. A question and then an answer. An input and then an output. Humans use conversation to interact, pass the time, and grow closer together. Conversation and the complexity of our vocal interactions are a big part of human interactions. We are not grounded to grunts and physical signals because of our ability to think abstractly and form sounds that create words with assigned meanings. Conversation is key for much of what we want to do in life. In a world that runs on conversation, there is no harm in asking the question.

You can ask for anything you want. You can ask for favors:

In a hotel, you can ask if you can get a better room.

You can reach out to a support team and ask for a discount.

You can ask the hostess for a table with a better view at the restaurant.

You can ask your professor for extra time on a paper.

You can ask your brother to save you the last cookie.

You can ask risky questions:

You can ask that person who has caught your eye if they want to get a coffee.

You can ask the chef what they recommend, and then follow through with it.

You can ask your coach to play you at a different position.

You can ask the singer to let you sing on stage with them.

You can ask for anything you can think of. And within respectful reason, you can ask anything with relatively little consequences. The worst case you may run into is that your request cannot be accommodated. The best case response to asking a question is you receive everything you asked for. This best case response would never have been possible without simply asking the question. There is no harm in taking chances to ask the questions once you accept that the answer may be no. If the answer is no, at least you tried asking. If the answer is yes, your situation has dramatically improved.

Sometimes asking the question is the hardest part of the process. Finding the courage to ask a question where we have internally already assigned an answer can be difficult. If we assume the answer is “no,” we are likely to stay silent. By realizing we are not in control of the answer to our question, we free our minds to let the universe decide the outcome. By just asking the question we take it out of our minds and into the hands of a real person who has the ability to make their own decision. Just ask. Just ask and see what happens.