Think about a time when you were able to help someone else. You probably felt good.
During the many years that WAVE has been privileged to meet young people around the country, those who have been involved in our programs have told us that their favorite aspect was participating in community service projects as members of the WAVE Leadership Association. We all enjoy feeling that we have helped someone else.
At the same time, many of us are reluctant, or simply forget, to ask someone for help.
When you are feeling stressed, pressured, or overwhelmed, asking for help is the first thing you have to do.
If you have made a commitment to someone that you cannot keep, ask if you can work around it. If you have a deadline, ask if it can be extended. If you don’t understand something, ask a friend, relative, or anyone else for his or her opinion. You won’t always get the help you ask for, but it’s guaranteed that you won’t get it if you don’t ask. The majority of the time, you will get the advice or assistance you need.
Usually, when we feel vulnerable, our first instinct is to act tough in order to protect ourselves. That is exactly the opposite of what we should do.
When we ask for help graciously, without being embarrassed or defensive, people will, almost always, come to our aid.
Our openness and vulnerability allows others to appreciate what we are facing and encourages them to assist us.
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