Asking for Help

Let’s get straight to the point: asking for help can be extremely uncomfortable. We are putting ourselves in a position of vulnerability, a term which for many of us is code weak. Personally, my thought process turns to, “I shouldn’t need to ask for help, I should be able to figure this out myself. If I was good enough, smart enough, talented enough, I wouldn’t be in this position. What if I’m rejected, or, worse yet laughed at?” So asking for help is difficult, right? But it also can be empowering.

When asking for help, we put ourselves in the position of being hurt, both physically and emotionally. No one likes rejection, and we certainly take that risk when we put ourselves out there. So it takes a certain amount of courage to take that risk of rejection, to humble ourselves by exposing our weaknesses or shortcomings. And it also takes honesty; it means we’re willing to acknowledge our shortcomings and allow others to help us address them. Heck, even Superman has his weaknesses!

Often times, we need permission to ask for help. Here, we can lead by example, thereby giving others license to do the same. Even the greatest of leaders need support and direction sometimes. Few, if any of us, make it through this life without asking for support in some measure. And those who refuse are paving themselves a lonely road to walk down.

Finally, asking for help creates connection. It provides the other person with an opportunity to give and support us, creating a new relationship, or strengthening a current one. To quote Brene Brown, “Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.”

So please, make sure you reach out, allow yourself to be vulnerable, and strengthen those connections when you need help. And consider this: connection is code for LOVE <3