October 3 - Today's Question on Receiving in These Foolish Things

Have I ever been punished or shamed for asking for help or expressing vulnerability?

I think I have punished and shamed myself for feeling weak and expressing vulnerability. I have been someone who keeps my feelings to myself up until recently, and even recently, I’ve had a hard time asking for help or expressing vulnerability.

Even through cancer and treatment, I always felt this sense that I was going to be able to tackle this issue. And no, I didn’t do it by myself, that’s for SURE! But I never asked for help… there were so many who were willing to step up and be by my side before I ever had to ask. Somehow they knew.

Maybe… maaaayyybe, the things that I post on my socials are my way of expressing my vulnerability? Because posting things during cancer treatment was not only therapeutic to me, it also helped the people around me know when I might be needing some help. And that helped them step up?

But I certainly was never punished or shamed for that - at least not directly.