Asking for Help

“Don't be shy about asking for help. It doesn't mean you're weak, it only means you're wise.” ~anonymous
 
Somewhere early on in life, I learned that it was a sign of weakness to ask for help.  I am not sure where I learned that silly rule or why I followed it for so long, but I believed the social norm to never ask for help and tried to do it all by myself.  I did everything I possibly could and then went above and beyond because I believed I had to give 110%  to be successful.  I didn’t dare delegate anything as I thought that would be a sign of weakness due to the fact that I was asking others to do something I couldn’t do, plus I was a control freak.  When my back was hurting or my arthritic knees were bothering me, I still moved the furniture, crawled on the floor to get to the computer cables and carried the boxes.  I cared more about what others thought of me than I cared about my physical and emotional well-being.
 
Luckily, as I got wiser, I learned that asking for help was beneficial to everyone.  By asking for help, I was involving others in the tasks and the outcomes were usually superior because more minds were involved in finding the best solution for the job.  I wasn’t as tired because I wasn’t doing it all myself, so I had more to offer others.  I was taking care of my body and listening to what it was capable of doing and not injuring myself.

It took a lot of courage to initially start asking others for help.  Now, I see that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. I help others, others help me, and I express my deep gratitude for all the help I receive! It is so important to lend a helping hand to those in need and to feel comfortable to  ask for help when you are in need!
 
How do you view asking for help? Is it easier to offer assistance then to ask for help?
 
Do you ask for help? Why or Why Not?