This concept affected my early schooling. In second grade, my teacher instructed us to ask her when we were ready to move from the story book side of the library (for first graders) to the more advanced side. Since I'd already read everything on the storybook side, I immediately asked permission to transfer from one side to the other. She said, "No," without any explanation. From my experience at home, I didn't challenge her, so I didn't ask her again until almost all of the class had moved to the advanced side.

Later on in school, the idea that "asking was unacceptable" was reinforced again. I had a teacher who told us there was "No such thing as a stupid question." But when we didn't understand a math problem and asked for clarification, she'd call us stupid.

These experiences, and many others, established a pattern in my life. It was forbidden to ask for help or for what I wanted. If I did, I knew I'd be denied, rejected, or ridiculed. It was so ingrained that I didn't even think to ask the Universe for what I wanted. I figured that if my desires weren't given to me, even after I'd worked for them, I couldn't request any help. I should be able to do it on my own or not at all.

Over the past few years, I've realized how incredibly limiting that concept is. It's said that the Universe knows our needs and desires before we ask. Because of that, some people then think that they shouldn't have to make the request. The Universe may know our desires, and have already granted them, but unless we ask, how can our subconscious mind know that we actually want them?

Until we knock at the door, and keep knocking until we get an answer, the subconscious won't believe that we actually want our goal. Sometimes the initial answer is "No," and if that's the case we need to figure out what else we need to do to get an affirmative response. Sometimes, it's simply that we need to ask again and again, or go around to the back door and knock. Persistence gets the attention of our subconscious mind. People will notice when you keep at it, and begin to take you seriously when you don't give up. Just like your subconscious mind will notice your persistance.

There are times when we need to go somewhere else to ask for what we want. I once had a friend who wouldn't take "No" for an answer. He kept trying to get me to change my mind about going to his church with him. Because he didn't like my answer, he tried to manipulate me into doing what he wanted. Eventually, I ended the friendship and he had to find friendship elsewhere. If a particular person or situation can't or won't give what you want, then it's time to move on to someone or someplace that's more receptive.

Answer: Affirmations and suggestions are essentially the same thing. They're both statements designed to change old mental patterns in your subconscious mind. The advantage of self-hypnosis is that you're in a state that is more receptive to the positive statements you're affirming.

When you add visualization to self-hypnosis and affirmations, it helps to give the subconscious more information on what you want and helps to make it real for you. The subconscious cannot tell the difference between a strong image and reality. But the real power behind any re-programming is feeling. If you can FEEL it to be true, the subconscious mind accepts that and creates it. That also is the main reason for visualization. It's a mental rehearsal that gives the subconscious a pattern to follow in those situations.

Learning to ask for what we want is a lesson that most of us need to address. This book helps to identify most of the difficulties we have in asking. Using an allegory concerning Aladdin and his lamp, the authors' guide you past the obstacles to asking. They cover areas such as low self-esteem, discovering what to ask for, getting beyond the fear, and even how to ask. There are chapters on where or who to ask for what you want, such as at home, work, or the Universe.

Inspirational stories and testimonials of people climbing out on a limb and asking for what they want fill this book. There are examples of people successfully asking for things I never would have even tried. This is a book well worth re-reading every year to remind me of the lessons it contains. It stretches the mind to ask for and realize you can accept more of the good of the Universe.