Learning to Ask for Help

Throughout your life, you've likely spent many years taking care of yourself and perhaps caring for others as well. It would make sense if needing support now feels unfamiliar or even uncomfortable. After spending so much of your life managing things on your own, accepting help can be a difficult adjustment, especially if you've been someone others have depended on. It can touch your sense of independence, your dignity, and the way you've lived for many years. Asking for help is often harder than it appears from the outside. Accepting support can bring up many different emotions. You may value remaining as independent as possible. At the same time, accepting support can help preserve your energy for the people, activities, and responsibilities that matter most to you. It doesn't mean giving away your independence. It may simply mean sharing some of life's responsibilities. Sometimes adapting means allowing others to walk alongside you while continuing to live by the values that have guided you throughout your life. Today, we'll take a few moments to explore what this experience has been like for you. So finding a comfortable position, allow the body to settle in, noticing the support of the surface beneath you. If it feels comfortable, gently close your eyes or soften your gaze. Now, taking a deep breath in, holding for a moment, and slowly releasing through the mouth. Taking a few more deep breaths just like that. And then allow your breath to settle into its own natural rhythm, noticing the movement of the breath, noticing the body resting here, noticing any thoughts that are present, and there's nothing you need to do with them, simply allowing them to come and go. Now, bringing to mind the words "accepting support." Pause and notice what arises. There may be resistance. There may be relief. There may be uncertainty or perhaps something else. Throughout your life, you've adapted to many changes, some expected, others unexpected. And this is another one of those changes. Allow yourself to stay with that thought for a few moments. Now, take a moment to reflect on how you've lived through many chapters of life. Each one asked something different of you. You've made countless decisions about caring for yourself and perhaps for others too. You found your way through challenges before, not always easy, but one step at a time. This chapter may ask something different of you. It may include allowing others to share in some of your life's responsibilities. See if you can notice what it feels like to make room for that possibility without needing to decide anything today, just noticing how it feels to be cared for and to accept help. Now, taking one more breath in and out. And when you're ready, slowly and gently opening your eyes, (gentle music) noticing how you feel and noticing the room around you. As you continue with your day, remember that every chapter of life brings its own changes. This chapter may ask something...