I enjoy asking for gifts.  I like to connect a donor with a mission and see magic happen.  Indeed, when you ask one for a gift, the giver gives.

When I have broached this topic as of late, I see faces cringe and heads nod, “no.”  The body language says it all.  But, what is the aversion?  It has to do with how we value money and the beliefs and, ultimately, the power that money has over us.  Some feel awkward. Some even feel a little embarrassed about it.  Some ask “who will give us money?” and others ask “how will we ask them?”

We need to look carefully at ourselves.  What is our relationship to money?  We will never be able to move forward to ask for money if we do not know how we relate to it ourselves.

How important is money in our lives?  What is your past around money?  How do we spend the money we have?  Where are we giving our money?  How does having money affect our self-esteem and self-worth?

Money is about security and that is surely about a very vulnerable place in our lives.

Until you examine your beliefs and thoughts are around money, you will be adverse to ask others.

We must realize, that we are helping others by our asking.  We are enabling them to do great work for our clients, our community, and our world.

But, this must begin with you.  Take time to reflect on truly what money means to you.  And, that will prepare you to embrace asking others, and allowing for changed and transformed lives.