Kat Saks Yoga

“Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man is a social being.” – Mahatma Gandhi

I’ve always believed that if you want something done, you’ve got to do it yourself. Pull yourself up by the boot straps. Put your nose to the grindstone. Buck up and buckle down. I’ve prided myself on this type of self-sufficiency over the years and it has served me well.

Lately, though, I’ve needed some help.

My first child is due in about three weeks and, as the due date draws nearer, I find myself relying more and more upon the support of friends and family. People have offered to help me in ways I could never imagine – giving me furniture, gifts, baby essentials, bodywork, even offering to bring me meals once the baby arrives.

I was hesitant to accept all of this help at first. Surely, I thought, I could manage everything on my own. But, as I approach the monumental life change of becoming a parent, I realize how much help I truly need. And, most importantly, I’m learning to accept it.

Slowly, I’m learning to navigate the gentle balance between independence and assistance. No doubt, self-sufficiency is important. We have to take charge of our own lives, steer ourselves through life’s challenges, and launch ourselves toward our goals. We can’t expect anyone to do the hard work for us. But, once we’ve done everything we can to help ourselves, then it’s time to ask for help.

And here’s the amazing thing: when we combine our self-determination with the power of a helping hand, a whole new world of possibility opens. Achievements that were once out of grasp become attainable. New hope emerges. We become more capable than ever of making a difference – not only in our own lives, but in the lives of others. Self-sufficiency, combined with a little support, has the power to effect radical, important change in this world.

So, the next time you find yourself struggling, ask yourself two questions:

Have I done everything I can?

Is it time to ask for help?

Answer yourself honestly. And, when the time is right, rely on yourself to ask for help. Then watch the doors of possibility open wide.

Do you struggle with asking for help? When has a helping hand made a big difference in your life? Leave a comment below!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012 at 11:04 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.