I’ve recently experienced the benefits of swallowing pride and seeking out assistance when needed. I have always been someone who takes care of their own problems, very stubbornly I might add. Admitting that I even need help has always been a struggle for me. Finally putting my pride aside has shown me that its ok to ask for help. Everyone needs help at some point in their lives. It’s not a sign of weakness or being a coward. I think most people genuinely want to help others. I myself feel this way too. And since getting help, I realize that a lot of people are afraid to ask for or admit they need help with things.
Even in the dojo, sometimes it’s hard to admit you don’t know (or forgot) a sequence of kata or a sparring technique. It’s important and sometimes essential to rely on the help of others to improve. It’s part of being humble. Throwing out even the idea of needing help causes us to fall behind, be stuck in the mud. It’s always ok to seek help when you need it. I think the results would surprise most people as it did me.
We are not meant to be perfect. We make mistakes and learn from them. Life would not be interesting without making mistakes. There is nothing wrong with asking for help or making a mistake. Don’t be so hard on yourself. We are here to help each other out.
Agreed! Thank you for your support
That’s incredible Matt. As a man, I know how difficult it can be to ask for help. Pride will always result in humiliation. But when we are humble we give ourselves permission to get stronger.
Yes absolutely! What prompted my thoughts on this was actually a friend of mine who is going through a hard time financially and is refusing to ask for help as she would be too embarrassed. I reflected on my own instances of being prideful and realized how often I actually do that. I fully agree with your statement about “when we are humble, we give ourselves permission to get stronger”. Excellently put. Thank you