Asking for help... Why is it that we always think we have to do it alone? Are we so afraid of how other people see us and what they think about us? Afraid of coming off as weak, and not taken seriously. So much so, that we’re willing to sacrifice our own well being, our own state of mind. And we’re actually robbing ourselves of living our life to the fullest in that time.
I know I did that. I did think I could manage figuring out what kind of career I wanted to pursue (or even what I wanted to do in life or what would fulfill me) by myself. But every time I thought I did know, something would happen that would make me change my mind. Everything came crashing down again and I felt like I was back at the beginning again. I still remember having the same discussion with my partner, over and over again. Until I decided to ask for help. It gave me new insights, new perspectives, and clarity. And that’s when I really moved forward.
But I’m here to tell you that it’s ok to ask for help. If anyone would come up to me and ask me for help, I would be happy to help. I would never think: omg, why is that weak person asking me for help. I wouldn’t dare to ask: ‘have you tried solving this by yourself?’ Of course, I would help. No doubt about that.
I firmly believe in the idea of being vulnerable to people who’ve earned your trust. I do believe in the quote: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. It’s true. Talking with others and asking for ‘help’ gives you other perspectives, it widens your view. It can help you think of other ideas, you may make other decisions and you’ll learn new things about yourself. I definitely believe it adds value and I also believe that sometimes you just need to vent. You need to let it all out and even hearing yourself say things out loud, might be what you need in that moment.
To me, with asking for help, you’re showing vulnerability and this is the core of courage. It’s not weak, it’s brave as f*ck!
