Weekly newsletter
I. Prompts for motivation
How often do you turn to others for support or guidance? Is it easy for you to seek advice from your peers regularly, or do you struggle with asking for help out of doubt or hesitation based on certain preconceived ideas?
When was the last time that you sought support or assistance for any of your needs in your personal or professional life? What are some simple questions that you can come up with now that will help you gain the knowledge that will bring you closer to achieving those goals?
II. Thoughts for intention
Asking for help enables us to build connections with more honesty and trust, which creates genuine interactions. With more ideas, information, and resources available to us, we increase our level of confidence, skills, and overall sense of competence. When we pursue the things we need more responsibly, we can significantly shift our approach and gain a better perspective.
As social beings, it is in our nature to instantly gain satisfaction and contentment from people who can give us the help we need. By asking for support, we are acknowledging our connectedness to something much bigger than our individual concerns and situations. We remember that we are all going through all forms of challenges and difficulties, regardless of how alone we may temporarily end up feeling. No matter the issue at hand, we are forged together in our fundamental birthright of belonging.
III. Ideas for preparation
When faced with any form of discomfort, shame, or anxiety, we can take a step back to check the validity of our fear-based thoughts and feelings. Sometimes, we can unconsciously create negative associations or overestimate the likelihood of facing rejection. After careful examination, we can decide to ask for help by choosing the right person for the guidance we need. This allows us to immediately gain solace in the face of discomfort and create the kind of trust that will grant us a sense of direction to move forward.
For a lot of us, it can be a challenge to not shy away from asking for help when we fear that our request could feel like an inconvenience to them. While for others, some might simply feel that no purpose could possibly come from appearing incompetent, weak, or inferior. However, it is the act of pointing out our imperfections and hardships to those around us that unlocks opportunities for more kindness, intimacy, and positivity in our communities.
IV. Quotes for inspiration
“Asking for help is never a sign of weakness. It’s one of the bravest things you can do. And it can save your life.”
― Lily Collins, Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me
“Dependence starts when we are born and lasts until we die. We accept our dependence as babies and ultimately, with varying degrees of resistance, we accept help when we get to the end of our lives. But in the middle of our lives, we mistakenly fall prey to the myth that successful people are those that help rather than need, and broken people need rather than help. Given enough resources, we can even pay for help and create the mirage that we are completely self-sufficient. But the truth is that no amount of money, influence, resources, or determination will change our physical, emotional, and spiritual dependence on others.”
― Brené Brown, Rising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution.
