Even in a culture that values vulnerability, many people still struggle to ask for help. Research shows we underestimate how willing others are to help, and overestimate the cost of asking. When care becomes transactional, it erodes belonging and deepens social isolation.

I’ve noticed something interesting in my years of coaching and mentoring: people rarely ask for help directly. It’s almost as if there’s a stigma attached to admitting we don’t have all the answers. The question I wish I’d hear more often is ...