Asking for help could potentially be one of the most confusing notions that many of us misperceive. Many perceive it to be a sign of giving up, as though we are not strong enough to make the necessary decisions to move forward or that we cannot handle things on our own. It may be perceived as our vulnerability taking over, as though being vulnerable is a flaw – one that we must not have. Weakness, however, is not a flaw, nor is vulnerability, and certainly, neither is asking for help.
What it Really Means to Ask for Help
Why is not asking for help a sign of weakness? How can we misunderstand that if the literal meaning of “help” is, as the dictionary puts it, to “make it easier or possible for (someone) to do something by offering services or resources”. Asking for help is not “a way out”. It is not a way of running away from issues – but facing them. Help does not necessarily make anything easier. Just because someone offers help, it does not mean that it will remove 99% of the issues you have. Asking for help is much more complex than this. It is actually one of the bravest things one can do to improve their situation. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it is a sign of strength. Merely admitting that you need help is a way of saying “enough”. It is a way of refusing to stay in the same difficult condition that you are in and changing it! Yes, asking for help is a way of improving yourself, your situation, and your mental wellbeing. It is a sign that you want to move forward with your life. It does not set you back or make things “easier on you”. It just gives you room to be able to improve a sticky situation. It does not make this sticky situation any easier.
Benefits of Asking for Help
Asking for help can be extremely resourceful, and not just on a personal level. Whether you work in a fast-moving company or are a freelancer, asking for the necessary help at a time where you feel overwhelmed can positively impact the work that you do. You will feel empowered, more productive, and overall lighter once you receive the assistance needed. Asking for help also allows room for more ideas to flourish, and this means having different perspectives and making the most accurate decision. Asking for help builds long-lasting connections and promotes its importance, because asking for help is the a significantly good thing that you can do for yourself and others around you. Asking for help makes it more okay to ask for help, and such an act needs to be normalized.
Mostly though, asking for help means not being afraid to admit that you need the help. It means being there for yourself in the most humane way. It means putting yourself and your needs first. It means leaning on a friend. It means strength. It means beauty – the beauty of loving yourself. Asking for help promotes self-love, because by asking for the necessary help, you would be accepting everything that comes with it, and that in itself is one of the most important things that comes with asking for help, and one of the most important self-care tactics that you can take!
Do not be afraid to ask for help. You never know where it may come from, and it can prove to be one of the most life-altering situations.