Just How Strong is this Four-Letter Word?


It's not just a Beatles' song. It's not just a desperate refrain. It's not something shouted in anger, although extreme frustration may make us blurt it out. Just what is this four-letter word, and why is it so strong? Consider the following quote by an unknown author:

                                 A little boy was having difficulty lifting a heavy stone.
                                His father came along just then.

                               Noting the boy's failure, he asked, "Are you using all your strength?"

                              "Yes, I am," the little boy said impatiently.

                              "No, you are not," the father answered.
                              "I am right here just waiting, and you haven't asked me to help you."

Rocks

Rock Stack

 

Does any of this resonate for you?

  • Do you often struggle on alone, convinced that whatever you're trying to accomplish somehow "won't count" if you ask for help?    Where is that written - and accounted for?
  • Do you feel the need to reinvent the wheel, when wheels of so many astonishingly different and creative styles are available if you just ask for help?    What if we re-used an existing wheel? Or adapted one to our own taste?
  • Do you feel great helping others, but hesitate - or hate - to ask for help yourself?   Would it be easier to ask if you knew you were giving others the gift of feeling great because they're able to help you?


Help is one of the strongest four-letter words in the English language. Strong enough for the heavy lifting sometimes required on both sides of the equation - from the requester as well as the giver.

Asking for help can require great courage: to overcome a feeling of inadequacy, or bad connotations from childhood authority figures, or recent bad experiences with those for whom help is a dirty word.

Giving help can also require great courage: to give wholeheartedly with no expectation of return, or when the giving stretches us to our limits, or when trying to give only what the requester asks and not what we think he or she should want.

Help - both the giving and the receiving - is such a strong four-letter word because the very act requires us to grow, to learn, to be bigger and better than we were before. Help is an essential human trait.

Who have you asked for help lately?   Who have you helped lately?   Be strong - spread the word!


Just How Strong is this Four-Letter Word?

 

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Judy Klem

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88 Comments on Just How Strong is this Four-Letter Word?

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JAN
12
2011
227,559 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Kate - I really appreciate your re-blog!  Thanks so much for doing this.
11:59am • #70

Judy,

When I got stuck in a snowbank on my farm road this morning on my way to the office, I immediately called for HELP.  Did manage to get myself out but I never hesitate to ask for assistance.  Great post!
12:40pm • #71
227,559 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Irene - Whoa! I'm glad you immediately called for help - and that you got out of that snowbank! Stay safe.

Thanks very much!
12:45pm • #72
227,559 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Debbie Gartner - I know I responded to your comment, but it didn't take! I couldn't agree more with what you've said. AR is an amazingly supportive and HELPful community. Thanks so much for your comment.
12:49pm • #73
464,055 Points 1 Featured Post

Some people are too proud to ask for help.  With that said, there are times when we all need help. We shouldn't feel bad or inferior about asking for HELP!!

Patricia. Seacoast NH & ME
2:40pm • #74
1,125,721 Points 90 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Good points! When I was a young mother, working full time, I had a hard time at first asking others for help. Once I learned that, it really made my life easier.
2:42pm • #75
781,061 Points 38 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Congrats on the well deserved Feature!
3:07pm • #76
227,559 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Patricia - Very true!
3:11pm • #77
227,559 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Erica - Thanks! Yes, it does make things easier when others can pitch in a bit - especially when you have little ones.
3:12pm • #78
227,559 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Sharon - Thanks very much!
3:13pm • #79

Great thought and beautifully expressed. We as independent business people I think are often guilty of this. And it's a two-way street, definitely!
4:33pm • #80
514,330 Points 29 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I saw this over at Kate's.  This is truly beautiful!  I have a hard time asking for help although I love to help others.  Food for thought!
5:07pm • #81
227,559 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Jan - Thanks so much! That is so nice of you. You're right - I think business people who essentially have to count on themselves for their livelihood really do feel like we need to do it all aone. But if we allow it, help is at hand. Thanks for commenting!
5:08pm • #82
227,559 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Susan - Great! I was so happy that Kate was moved to re-blog this. Thank you so much for your nice compliment. I'm glad my post is thought-provoking for you.
5:12pm • #83
277,736 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Hi Judy,

I must admit...When I read the title & the reference to a Beatles song, I thought the word would be "RAIN" (as in another AR cheerleader post...all good).

Then I realized, I've never used the word, "Rain" as any form of expletive blurted in frustration or anger...unless the word, "Damn" was in front of it!

In retrospect, it could have been "rain" for the strength aspect...and the Beatles song...but I'm no cheerleader! ;)

All the best!
5:18pm • #84
227,559 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Brian - How funny! I love it that you had worked out a whole different train of thought for this post. Your comments really gave me a chuckle - thanks!  All the best to you, too!
5:38pm • #85
254,060 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Judy, Judy, Judy...talk about timely...

I knew I owed you a hello from your reaching out last week, but have felt so saddened by last week's tragedy in Tuscon...and the further realization there is senseless violence all over the world, day in and day out-that I lost a lot of focus and kind of pulled back. Even started a post, asking if anyone else felt that way, then thought "NO-O-O-O I'm sure no one else feels they need help with this",  and deleted it.

THEN I read this. WOW, thank you. And of course, congrats on being featured, yes, you are getting the New Year off to ta great start!!
5:43pm • #86
227,559 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Marie - I'm so glad that this post helped even a little bit. I know what it feels like to have that emotionally dazed feeling - I was a wreck after Sept 11 - and for quite a while afterwards.

It's sometimes very hard to have any kind of sensitivity in this world, because there's so much pain. But if you search here in AR, you'll find that quite a few people wrote about Tucson, reaching out instinctively to the wonderful community here.

Also, please know that you can email me any time you like if you want to have more of a one-on-one talk. We all need to help each other as we can.

Thanks so much for your kind words. It feels great to have a featured post!
6:43pm • #87
257,100 Points 30 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Judy, Help is one four letter word used to infrequently, in fact maybe HELP is the only four letter word used too infrequently.
8:35pm • #88
227,559 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Charles - I think you may be right!   ;-)
8:49pm • #89

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Judy Klem, Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Shelton, CT

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Transition Stage LLC

Address: P. O. Box 2264, Huntington, CT, 06484

Office Phone: (203) 889-8556

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