Getting Real Good Help When You Need It
Do you ever sit back and ask yourself: How amazing would it feel to be the next game show champion and win a million bucks? Picture this: you have ALL the right answers, the audience is cheering you on, and you’re able to rattle off stats and figures like it’s nobody’s business.
As much as we’d like to have all the answers and solutions to whatever life throws our way, we just don’t. We don’t mean to crush your vibe — we’re just here to keep it real. Everyone needs help. Whether you’re trying to decide what to eat for dinner later or picking up a skill you need to learn for your new job, even the most successful people rely on others for a little boost of support. It’s easy to fall into the “my way or the highway” mentality here and there, and not give too much brain space to other perspectives or helpful ideas, but it’s not the best mindset to have for long-term success.
To recognize Men’s Health Month this June, we wanted to provide a few handy tricks for reframing concepts around asking for help:
Instead of: “I can get through this tough time completely by myself,” try: “I will be able to get through this tough time better if I reach out to the people who support me.”
Instead of: “Asking for help is weak,” try: “I’m stronger by asking for help.”
Instead of: “I have to always feel confident and have the right answers in order to be successful,” try: “I might not always have the answers, but I will do my best in any situation by using the tools and resources at my disposal.”
Following conversations with behavioral health experts, a recent article from the American Journal of Men’s Health outlines how several current statistics around men and mental health “reinforce the notion that males are less likely to seek help and more likely than women to turn to dangerous, unhealthy behaviors.” The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion also mentions how men are more likely to “smoke, drink too much alcohol, make unhealthy or risky choices, and put off regular checkups and medical care.”
We get it. You’re TOUGH. But it’s TOUGH to show vulnerability. It’s TOUGH to admit you don’t know something. Bottom line: asking for a little help makes you tougher and also makes going through tough times a lot easier.
