H…E…L…P… I don’t know about you, but when I utter those four little letters together as the word they’re meant to spell, it’s like chewing on broken glass. Why is it so hard for some of us, including myself, to ask for help? I could name a few reasons. Pride, perfectionism, shame, fear… Each of us may claim a particular reason, but what it all ends up boiling down to is our fear of vulnerability. To be vulnerable is to expose oneself to potential criticism and/or emotional injury. Who wants to do that?!
But, what if we looked at the benefits of asking for help other than the obvious one of getting the assistance we need? Asking for help is a way to connect with someone, a way to acknowledge that we are not super heroes and we are just doing the best we can. A sense of community and connection are vital to a healthy psyche and perspective on life. As we have become more and more disconnected in our hectic, electronic worlds, we have lost that connection to one another. Asking for help reminds us that we are all on a human journey together and that sometimes assistance is required as we grow and learn along our individual paths.
Another benefit of asking for help is giving the person who you are asking the opportunity to be of service. What a gift that is! There is no need to feel shame when you are giving the person of assistance an opportunity to feel helpful. A part of feeling fulfilled in life includes being of service. Asking for help is a two way street of mutual benefit to both parties even if you are just asking for a cup of sugar to bake a cake.
If you are feeling challenged or in need of assistance in any way, ask for help. Suffering from the consequences of not asking is unnecessary and prevents us from experiencing the opportunity to connect with another person.
