Quote

Asking for help is never a sign of weakness. It’s one of the bravest things you can do.

Lily Collins

Real Life

British-French diver, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, has been competing on the senior international diving circuit since she was only 13. At 15 she won her first international senior diving gold and that same year she won the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year. Two years later she won golds at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.

Spendolini-Sirieix was building strongly for the Tokyo Olympics but during the build-up and at the event, she was suffering from the twisties (dangerous disorientation in tumbling caused by a build-up of stress). Amazingly, Spendolini-Sirieix still managed to compete at the games and finish 7^th. The experience, however, prompted her to consider quitting diving. It was at that point that Spendolini-Sirieix decided she needed to tell those close to her what was happening. Spendolini-Sirieix admits that she found it hard to admit her difficulties to others, but she realised that those who cared about her wanted to help and they couldn’t help her if she didn’t tell them. Ultimately, it was the asking for and receiving of help that enabled Spendolini-Sirieix to improve her mental health and be free of the twisties. She went on to win bronze at the Paris Olympics.

As sportspeople, we learn to push ourselves. Sometimes however, the challenges are too big for us to overcome ourselves. The bible speaks about how we need others, mentioning it for the first time right at the very start when God created Adam and then said “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper for him”. (Genesis 2:18) Throughout the bible the concept of community is modelled and valued (Acts 2:42-45), as is loving and supporting each other (Galatians 6:2). Often in life, it is in the humility of admitting our struggles to others, that we can discover help and healing.

Bible Verse

Two are better than one…if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Prayer

Lord please give me the wisdom to know when I should ask for help, and the humility and courage to do it. Help me to be open to receive the love and help you have placed around me.

Author: Sarah Auld   |   Content Editor: Phil Pawley