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You don’t have to look too far to see an ad about health and fitness. Every day we get messages about what it means to be strong, virile, ready for anything. Able to be what it takes for today’s man to survive the journey through life.
Tough.
Sexy.
Capable.
Training and education exist on every imaginable topic you can think of to help us get firmer. Find our inner warrior.
“Run the Ironman”
“Outperform your competition”
I recently discovered a muscle in the male anatomy that is severely underdeveloped.
Our “Ask” muscle.
Why do we guys have such a hard time with this seemingly simple move? I’ve always taken some sick pride in doing it myself. When did this happen? Was there some sinister plan when I was born to build a race of lone rangers ready to take on the dark side?
My kids and wife have no problem asking. Why do I?
As we get older, support from others can help us get ahead at work, find spiritual enlightenment, get and stay healthier and most importantly create deeper connection with our loved ones. Romantic connection, family ties and friend circles all benefit when we ask our peeps often for what we need.
Recently, while visiting an elderly friend, I noticed he needed to get up to do his hourly walking exercise to stay moving. At his age, he needs to walk every hour or two to keep his body and mind working.
I asked him if he needed help and he said no. So I waited. He couldn’t get up, so I grabbed his aging body and happily lifted him to begin his walk. I thought about how proud he was as a younger man. He was a rock. One of the most solid guys and examples of fitness I’ve ever seen. He actually inspired me my entire life to stay fit and strong.
He was all about daily practice. Consistent, persistent action toward getting stronger and fitter. Yet here he was needing the one muscle that he had never developed. His ask muscle.
So I decided to start practicing my ask muscle more, starting today. I vowed on behalf of my friend Nick, who taught me so well about all my other muscles, to make sure later that this one was the strongest. Not in a needy way, just in a healthy way.
Let me start now. With you, my reader.
Will you help me “get stronger” and develop my ask by sharing this message today with one of the men in your life? It will definitely help them live a richer life. Now and well into the future.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Problem with asking is taking somebody else’s resources in time, energy, or whatever else you need, thus making them unavailable for other needs. When I ask, implicitly I am judging my needs against other needs about which I know nothing.
Problem with asking is taking somebody else’s resources in time, energy, or whatever else you need. Those resources are thus no longer available for other purposes. So,implicitly, I am judging my need for help against some other need about which I know nothing.