Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help: It’s a Strength, Not a Weakness

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In self improvement, I think there is often a myth that you need to “do it all on your own,” and your life circumstances shouldn’t ever depend on other people.

While I admire independence and self-reliance, and it’s a huge theme of this blog, I also acknowledge that we are interdependent beings.

Our relationships, and the people we surround ourselves with on a daily basis, are often just as defining of who we are as our own bodies and minds.

A supportive and helpful friend can make you a better person at the end of the day. And that’s something to embrace, not something to be ashamed about.

The most successful and happy people in the world understand the simple importance of these positive relationships.

They realize that everyone in the world experiences problems and troubles every now and then, but it’s the people who are willing to admit when they need help who are most adaptable to life.

We can’t be afraid to ask for help when life gets overwhelming or out of our control. Real limitations can exist in our lives, we can’t devote an infinite amount of time and energy on everything – so sometimes we need that extra hand from others.

Are you seeking help from friends, family, or coworkers when you need it? Are they willing to help you or do they just brush you off? Are you returning the favor when they need help from you?

These are good questions to ask yourself. It’ll help you identify the relationships in your life that are the most helpful and most supportive.

“Help” plays a major role in our relationships. Our species has evolved so well with our environment because of our ability to cooperate with others, return favors, and build strong, loyal social networks.

If you don’t have these kinds of relationships in your life, it’s time to start building them. It’s very rare that a person can find complete happiness or success in their lives all on their own. I won’t say it’s not possible, but for most people it’s not likely.

I tend to be more introverted and independent-minded than most people, so cultivating supportive relationships is something I had to actively teach myself.

It’s only very recently that I’ve come to appreciate my social network and realize the true importance of it. It’s improved my work, my personal goals, and my overall enjoyment and life satisfaction. It’s helped me get to places in life that I never would’ve been able to get to all on my own.

We are all susceptible to this illusion of independence, so it’s important to be cautious of it. When life gets hectic, sometimes reaching out to others is the best source of growth and resilience.

If you have a strong and healthy social network, then you have a wider range of resources to tap into when you need some guidance or help.

A big part of building this social network is rewiring your brain to be more kind. If you’re there for others when they need you, then they are much more likely to be there when you need them.

Please don’t underestimate the importance of supportive relationships and asking for help. For many, it can be the deciding factor between an opportunity for growth vs. stagnation.



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