Sometimes Strength Means Letting Others Help You

This prompt reminded me of a video I saw at the beginning of the year where a guy said his new year motto is "People will shift for me", that he is done being the only one giving and not asking because of reasons unknown. I related so well with the video because that was me all my life until recently as I've been learning a lot recently.

Even on days that I didn't have much, I couldn't say no to people especially when I was in the university then. I remember how some close neighbors would say they never get to do much for me but I'm always having what they may need at some point in time. There was almost no reason for me to go ask for help from them and it wasn't that I had everything I really needed then.

I think I'll attribute this habit of not asking to my dad's way of raising my siblings and I. He is always making sure we had enough not to go asking or maybe we all somehow gained the power of contentment that even when there is a lack, we don't go asking until it's no longer a choice but a survival not to stay quiet about it.

I'm not saying asking is bad, it's not the reason I don't ask much. I just grew up to be like that but I've learned just how much I can change about myself if I decide to and one of the things I'm learning to do now is asking when I need help even if I stand the risk of being looked down on or I won't get the help. What's important is that, I'm learning to not totally rely on myself anymore.

I have a friend who can not hide his happiness whenever I go to him for help, it surprises me how excited he gets but we both understand why he is like that and that is because I rarely do. Well, I've not had unforgettable experiences regarding seeking help that I can share much.

What I do know is, I don't find it easy to ask for help but most of the few times I've asked, people do come through for me and it made me feel really grateful. It is why I am choosing not to feel guilty or hold back when I need to ask for help, it's part of being human and I am a human lol.

Sadly, from watching others asking, I've understood how people actually take advantage of others by asking more than they should or asking for what they could do for themselves. On the other hand, I've seen people get themselves into worser situations because they failed to ask for help when it was still a manageable mess.

Our choices with seeking for help does says a lot about us, while we don't want to shoulder everything that concerns us and ask for help, there are limits to asking for help so you don't become someone who always takes but never gives. I've seen a lot of people like that and for the fear of not being like them, I do hold back.

Well, for us who find it hard to ask, you are human and you should not feel guilty for asking especially when you know things are out of your control. And no, don't try to control everything about you, it doesn't always go well that way. So allow someone shift for you and you should shift for someone too, things are way better that way.