Asking for Help is an Act of Bravery
Why is it so difficult to ask for help? For many people, asking for support and guidance is like embarking on an epic journey filled with uncertainty and even shame.
In the competitive world of today, it is common to think that asking for help implies an obligation to return the favor. This reflects a belief that everything anyone does is done with the expectation of receiving something in return.
Everyone should ask themselves this question: When I help someone, do I expect something in return? Before responding, really think about it.
In general, what one expects of others is usually a reflection of themselves. This means that in order to modify one’s beliefs regarding other people, one must first focus on one’s own self-image.
Today’s society favors and rewards self-motivation and perfectionism. In a certain way, this implies the obligation to be self-sufficient and independent.
It is instilled in the minds of many that they don’t need anyone in order to advance in life. It is believed by many that they themselves are enough, and that asking for the aid of others is a sign of weakness. This belief is based in arrogance and pride, and only serves to falsely feed the ego.
Recognizing one’s limitations
Recognizing one’s limitations means always remembering that it is not possible for one person alone to have all the answers, to always know the whole truth, or to be completely self-sufficient without the support of nature and others.
The natural world is designed for cooperation, given that all humans must depend on the others around them for survival. It is inevitable. It is a reality that cannot be avoided. To think the opposite means isolating oneself from reality.
Learning how to ask for help when it is needed is an act of modesty and bravery. It means recognizing the fact that the world is full of natural resources that increase one’s possibilities and abilities. These resources are tools that aid in reaching goals and overcoming obstacles.
When one reaches out to someone else, they are also giving a vote of confidence to that person. This facilitates the breaking down of prejudices that exist in society. Asking for help strengthens bonds and leads people to put down the shields of pride and arrogance.
An equalizing gesture
When help is given, it means that no one is above anyone else. And when help is received, it means that no one is below anyone else.
Getting help is not a humiliating act, nor does it imply that one must lower themselves for anyone else.
The recognition that there are circumstances in life in which one needs another person makes one more human, and closer to those around them.
Asking for help makes one more honest, and more able to help another if asked to.
Asking for help doesn’t have anything to do with failure, nor with dependence, nor with inferiority. It has more to do with the recognition of one’s own limitations, modesty, and bravery. It is a great step in preparing oneself to confront and resolve the prejudices that create distrust in others.
Dare to ask for help
Sometimes, reaching out is a difficult and dreaded task. Many people have gone through bad experiences in their lives in which they have needed help. Maybe they were not able to find someone in their moment of need, or maybe they received assistance that was not actually helpful. Either situation can create frustration.
Some people also have the mistaken belief that asking for help means adopting a debt and the favor must be returned. Becoming conscious of that fact that society creates these influences and imposes these ideas can help prepare us to take the step of bravery that is necessary. It also means breaking away from one’s own fears, and leaving behind that distrust and the isolation it created.
Dare to ask for help. Trust in others who offer help and want nothing in return.
No one is alone. There are countless good people in the world ready to help when there is a need. Don’t forget about them, and give them the opportunity to show and share this quality. With this attitude, feelings of love, generosity, compassion, and mutual care are created.
