I think about all the times we do things ourselves instead of taking advantage of available help, and I wonder why. Sometimes money is an issue, but often enlisting a professional feels like admitting defeat or going against our identity as someone who can do it on their own. It’s odd to feel guilty about using resources, but I think it often happens.
Examples include:
- Believing you should be able to train your puppy yourself instead of taking it to obedience lessons
- Thinking it’s just that you don’t have the willpower to diet on your own vs being prescribed GPL-1 medications
- Feeling that you should just know how to handle supervisory situations instead of hiring an executive coach for help
- Believeing you must spend hours doing your own analysis for it to be real instead of deploying AI to compile a project for you
- Thinking you should be able to see organizational issues and solutions yourself rather than needing to bring in a consultant
- Expecting that you should be able to bring your home’s vision to life on your own rather than needing an interior decorator to pick out colors and furniture
- Feeling like you should have the internal discipline and knowledge to regularly work out on your own instead of hiring a personal trainer
- Struggling with over-the-counter meds rather than making a doctor’s appointment
Using resources is a sign of strength, not weakness. You don’t always have to take the hard road.
