We’ve all heard the joke of the person who will drive around lost for hours before asking for directions.
He’d rather find his own way there than swallow some pride and reach out for help.
Asking for help shows weakness. It shows insecurity. It shows uncertainty.
But as humans, these are things we never want to show.
I’m no different.
I’m quick to offer help (and sometimes force help on people who are resistant like me) because I always tell people, “Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength. Swallowing that pride is much stronger than living lost.”
But I’m a hypocrite. I don’t follow my own advice.
It seems like I always know the right thing to say to people in need, but I forget to apply any of that wisdom when it comes to my own problems.
That all changed recently.
I’ve been holding this in for about 1 year now, but here goes: I’m afraid of the uncertainties my future holds.
I know, seems like everyone has that thought, right? So why would I be ashamed to tell people my fears and seek help?
Answer: Because I’m Superman to a lot of people. I’m the person who always has it together. I always have a plan. I always have an answer or at least a step towards the solution.
But at the current moment I’m lost. And scared. And uncertain.
What’s worse is I’ve been suppressing my problems as if they did not exist, when in reality, they’ve been a cause of much lost sleep and nightmares.
Why?
Answer: I have enough money in my bank account to last me until about the end of August, which is 31 days away.
If I don’t find a stable income by then, I’ll be forced to move back home to Las Vegas (I live in Reno). In my eyes, a move back home is regression, which is failure. The sad part for me is that I’ve been applying anywhere and everywhere but have had no luck.
I have huge dreams and aspirations, but they’re quickly being tackled by the realities of a poor economy.
And it hurts. I’ve rarely failed in life and at the rate I’m going, I’m set to fail.
Although I’ve been shaky for months on end now, my faith did not start to truly waver until three days ago.
I was sitting in my room, looking for more jobs to apply for, but decided to pull out my bible and do some morning reading.
I couldn’t make it through one verse without pouring out in uncontrollable tears.
I was quickly losing faith. How was I supposed to do great things in my life when God was letting my hope flounder? I’ve always succeeded at whatever I put my mind to. Why is this any different?
But then I read a verse that changed my mood and outlook:
Psalm 27:14: Wait on the Lord: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
I was losing faith and keeping my problems to myself — a recipe for combustion.
But this verse helped get me back on track.
I feel rejuvenated now, I’ve swallowed a ton of pride over the last few days and have reached out to people for help in finding an occupation. My situation hasn’t changed, but I feel 1,000 times better.
Like one of the wisest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting told me after I opened up to her after my problems: “It’s always peaceful when you’re true to yourself. You don’t have to be an open book to the world. But being an open book to yourself is so liberating.”
So reach out for help when you need it. Because in reality, pride does exactly the opposite of what it’s supposed to do. It just ends up making us feel worse about a situation and digging us into a deeper hole.
Because, like this aforementioned person also told me: “There are two types of people in this world: Dead people and people with issues. Don’t be afraid to show your true self.”
Be true to you. Acknowledge your problems. Face them. Realize you’re not alone. Seek guidance. Reach out..