I Get by With a Little Help from My Friends

   

Posted by Lori O'Donnell

May 8, 2019

bigstock-Friend-giving-a-helping-hand-242889373There was a discussion this morning in one of my Facebook groups about asking for help. A new member had taken a class and was reluctant to tell the instructor that she was having difficulty with some of the moves. The discussion made me think about asking for help in general. Why is it so hard for us as humans to reach out when we need help? Is it fear of embarrassment, of not seeming competent, being perceived as “less than”? Do we think asking for help makes others think we are weak? Or, do we simply not want to burden anyone else with our problems?

At some point, even the best of us needs help. Knowing when to ask and understanding why you need help is the most important thing. Asking for help can be something as small as asking someone to empty the dishwasher or throw in a load of laundry or as big as a shoulder to lean on when you are overwhelmed, depressed, or facing a life-changing situation. Our helpers are out there. They are our friends, our family members, our acquaintances, and even people we haven’t met yet. Check out these reasons why it’s okay to reach out.

  1. Everyone will need help. At some point, we all need help, no matter who we are. And, asking for help strengthens our connections with those around us, especially those we love.
  1. Asking for help takes courage. It is not a sign of weakness, nor is it a reason for embarrassment. Reaching out to others and putting yourself out there is a big step.
  1. Asking for help allows you to be gentle with yourself. Give yourself a break! It seems that sometimes it’s easier to be down on ourselves and nice to everyone else. When you need help, treat yourself with kindness.
  1. You cannot do everything on your own. Sure, we like to think we can do it all, but the truth is, sometimes you just need an extra set of hands, or a different idea about a project, or even a little push in a different direction. And, sometimes those extra hands can help save you time and may even get you better results than you imagined.
  1. You’ll pay it forward. It is natural for us to want to help others. Giving care, concern, and support to others helps us as well. When we turn our attention to helping others, the universe somehow finds a way to help us in return. It all goes back to strengthening our connections. The more we help, the more we ask for help, the greater we become.

And finally, remember, none of us can go it alone. None of us is perfect. We certainly don’t know everything. Everyone needs help. All we need to do is ask.

 

Topics: help, health fitness tips