Why is it so hard to ask for help?

Are you the independent type? The one who rarely asks for help? The one who takes pride in being able to tackle any problem on their own? I was that person. I was fiercely independent. I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone. I spent wasted energy on figuring things out on my own. I saw needing help as a weakness. Truthfully, I thought I would be judged as weak or incapable if I asked for assistance.

I'm not sure exactly when I shifted my mindset. There wasn't a single event that made me realize asking for help isn't a sign of weakness—it's simply acknowledging that I need support.

All I know is that it opened the door to all sorts of good stuff. I didn’t have to do everything alone. I didn’t have to spend an inordinate amount of time figuring things out. After all, two heads are better than one! It led me to seek new communities. It made me a better team player. It brought joy to my life. We aren’t meant to handle all of life’s challenges on our own.

Here are some tips for those of us who find it challenging to ask for help...