Asking for Help is not Bad

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Do you just say ‘I don’t know” and walk away? Do you try and figure it out? Do you just jump in head first and figure things will work out one way or another? I am really starting to wonder if the saying “fake it until you make it” really is something that works. We joke about it but when it comes to actually doing the thing that people think you know how to do, do you plunge forward and hope that they don’t know how it’s suppose to be done either?

All joking (or not joking) aside, I have come to realize I need to start asking for help, and that is hard to do. I am someone who likes to accomplish tasks, goals or projects mostly on my own not because I don’t like working with people but I just have this inane drive to prove to myself that I can figure these things out on my own. Sometimes I succeed like with my workout routines and eating habits but a lot of times I see that I have many downfalls that someone else is equipped at doing. For instance, I know that this blog and the website I am using could be seen and read by so many more people if I just could figure out this whole SEO thing, but sadly it is somewhat out of my league so this is where I would be looking for someone who has the skills to help me out.

When my hubby started to be at home more and I ended up at work more, I had to learn that I was not and am still not Superwoman. I wanted to be able to go to work and still come home and take care of things around the house. Last year I had to do it mostly on my own (the kids helped greatly) since my hubby was overseas, so it was more of a forced situation. Now it ‘s just me getting out of my own way and allowing those around me who love me take on responsibilities. Letting go of the reins is hard to do but when you do the relief that comes from knowing you have help makes it all worthwhile.

When I first became a licensed veterinary technician I had the strongest feeling that I had to put on this front that I knew exactly what I was doing. It’s like magically overnight, because of my new piece of paper that said I was licensed, I couldn’t make a mistake and I knew how to do all the vet tech skills out there. It’s a scary feeling to try and “fake it till you make it”. The first few months I failed at a lot of things, and then I started to reach out to the people that had helped me along the way and learned that saying “I don’t know” wasn’t a weakness as long as you then said “but let me find out”. In those first few months I learned more about having faith in myself and about jumping in to try new tasks. I have been a tech for years now and the two things that I hold on to from when I first became a tech are: If you don’t try, you won’t know, don’t be afraid to make mistakes just as long as you learn how to do it right next time. Be a sponge, soak up all the advice, knowledge, and experiences you can get from where you are right now. Second, be willing to be the teacher, mentor, friend that jumps in to help others learn and grow. Be humble about it though, don’t just jump in and take over, find times to share your thoughts and experiences with others without being pushy.

So what do you do when you don’t know what to do? For some that is the show stopper, they can’t move forward, others dive right in and say “I will figure it out when I need to”. I am somewhere in the middle. Do you try and “fake it till you make it?” I think in some things you can, it can actually help you learn by seeing how not to do things and correctly doing them next time. Are you someone who likes to do things all on your own, or do you like to wait for someone to show you how? Do you know when to ask for help? There is so much information out there telling us how to do so many things, there becomes a feeling of overload that consumes us. Step back and give yourself some space to think and then decide if you can manage on your own or if you need help in whatever it is you are doing. Until next time:

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own and you know what you know. And you are the person who’ll decide where to go.

Dr. Seuss

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