Asking for Help is a Powerful Act

I don't know about you, but in spite of years of recovery, I still have trouble asking for help. I don't mean asking for help in the Program - that's almost second nature now.

No, I'm talking about asking for other kinds of help - on the job or when I have something that's really to heavy for me to carry or even how to find a good car mechanic!

I was reminded of this when, day before yesterday, I got into a seemingly endless loop trying to find the motel where I was scheduled to spend the night!

I was visiting Palm Springs for business and social reasons and had made motel reservations on the web. I had the address, had downloaded the proper maps from www.mapquest.com and thought I was all set.

The address I was looking for was on North Palm Canyon - I arrived on Hwy 111, which forms the transportation backbone for Palm Springs and surrounding communities, and as I thought, it turned into Palm Canyon - but East Palm Canyon! After several miles it changed again - to South Palm Canyon. Since I was headed in the same direction, this made no sense to me. I 'knew' north should be off to my left somewhere, but that's solid mountains with a bunch of dead-end streets! Thinking the road must loop, although by this time I was far off my Mapquest maps, I drove hither and thither, for over 30 minutes!

Talk about feeling powerless! I was sure I 'should' be able to figure this out. Finally, I came to my senses, swallowed me ego and stopped at the closest motel (there are lots) to ask for directions. The woman behind the counter was absolutely delighted to straighten me out. (It turns out that N, S. and E. Palm Canyon are all the same road, one after the other, and all headed in roughly the same direction - not logical, but it works.)

Her pleasure at being able to help reminded me how much I enjoy helping others. If someone asks me for informatio
I have, I am also pleased. After all, I get to look smart; I get out of myself for a moment or two. Even if I don't know the answer, I am flattered and usually can point them in some helpful direction.

When we ask for help we are often empowering the person we're asking. We're saying we see them as competent and knowledgeable. And that's a gift to them.

Any time we can acknowledge that others are competent and knowledgeable we also empower ourselves. We get the information we need so we can move on. We 'unstick' ourselves, and getting unstuck is a powerful act. nnn