The Best 3 Reasons Revealing Why We Are Afraid to Ask for Help

Struggles and obstacles are a part of life that everyone deals with at some point or another throughout life.?

Some people know the benefits of asking for help, yet others hold themselves back and suffer silently. Whether you are struggling in your professional or personal life, not asking for the help you need can be detrimental to your success.?

Here are three reasons why you may be afraid to ask for help.

Pride Stands in the Way

Those who are independent by nature or have ingrained cultural influences tend to struggle when it comes to asking for help when they really need it. They are blinded by the belief they should do everything themselves. Often, this can become a detriment to yourself and others around you who are dependent on your performance.??

While independence is a great trait to have, the pride that comes with it can get in the way of getting things accomplished promptly and in the best way. You might take twice as long to solve a problem as it would if you asked for help. It may be honorable to be independent; however, you may be hurting yourself more than you realize when you let pride stand in the way.?

The next time you find yourself at a standstill at work or in your business, pause to go deeper into the WHY you are resisting asking for assistance.

Fear of Rejection

Innate to human survival is a sense of belonging, making the fear of rejection even stronger.?

The fear of rejection is a big reason people don’t ask others for help when they need it. You may be so wrapped up in another’s anticipated negative response, you convince yourself that everyone will say “no” to whatever you ask, so it is better not to ask in the first place.?

By not asking for help because you believe the other person will reject you, you are assuming they do not care enough about you to help. This shows an insecurity that will keep you from accomplishing your goals and keep others from connecting with you on a closer level.?

Think about a time when you saw someone obviously struggling and they rejected your olive branch. Do you recall how that made YOU feel?

Fear of Being Exposed as an Imposter

Imposter syndrome is a phrase used to describe people who go through their lives doing what they believe needs to be done, all the while feeling they will be exposed as a fraud. They may be having success, but they think it is more luck than any real skill or knowledge that has gotten them thus far.?

This fear of feeling like an imposter can grow to a point where it is difficult to ask others for help because the thought of being exposed is paralyzing. This fear can have detrimental effects on a person's personal and professional relationships because they cannot ask others for help, even in the simplest ways.?

Overall, when you get into a situation where you need help but hesitate, you may be experiencing one of the above reasons. Identifying what you are feeling is the first step to overcoming these fears and insecurities.?

Daring to look within can help you move into the life you have always wanted for yourself. Usually, we are our own worst (and continual) obstacle to getting “more” in our personal and professional lives.?

Think about it this way. It’s just like asking directions when on a road trip in unfamiliar areas. It is better to stop and ask for help rather than getting lost, not making it to your desired destination timely, or missing the airplane entirely.??

Power of Asking for Help?

For me, being vulnerable is asking for help from other people whatever it may be.

Mason Jennings?

Healing takes time, and asking for help is a courageous step.

Mariska Hargitay?

Asking for help with shame says: You have the power over me. Asking with condescension says: I have the power over you. But asking for help with gratitude says: We have the power to help each other.

Amanda Palmer?

Never hesitate to show your own staff that you need help. They need to be reminded how important they are to the process. In life and in business, we rely on each other to be responsible for individual tasks that benefit everyone. People sometimes forget how much interdependence there really is in a successful business. Learn the art of asking for help to empower and motivate others, and you will have learned a very powerful management strategy.

Georgette Mosbacher?

Help can also be defined as allowing yourself to be mentored, a form of guidance into the unknown, to elevate your career or business:

“Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.”- John Crosby

FOCUSING Leaders forward with success,

Donna