From Daily Om

"July 10, 2006
Network Of Support
Delegating
In modern society, self-reliance is highly prized. Throughout our lives we are taught that if we want something done right, we must see to it ourselves. Interdependence is often seen as demeaning. As a result, we are hesitant to ask for help or delegate responsibility regardless of how many duties we face or how overwhelmed we become. We fear that our need for assistance is indicative of inner weakness. Yet, in truth, knowing when to recruit help and effectively leveraging the resources around you is a sign of inner strength. Building a network of support, personally and professionally, can help you avoid shouldering a burden of obligations so large it prevents you from successfully addressing any of them. Your willingness to rely on others will free you to focus the whole of your attention on those responsibilities that truly require your personal attention or expertise.

Each member of the team you create-whether they are family and friends, hired professionals, assistants, a group of collaborators, or some mix thereof-can be a valuable ally in your quest to accomplish your goals while caring for yourself and your loved ones and living a fulfilling life. Housekeepers, gardeners, handymen, baby-sitters, and delivery services can help you stay on top of never-ending domestic duties and allow you to spend more quality time with your loved ones. Trading or bartering can be great ways of getting what you need. In your workplace, an assistant can take on maintenance tasks, leaving you more time to concentrate on duties specific to your position. You may have more resources at your disposal than you realized. Members of your family can contribute to the running of the household. Consider forming a community-wide cooperative in which members participate in a shared schedule of cooking, driving, repair, and other duties.

When you seek out and accept help, you give yourself the dual gifts of time and energy. Finding the courage to admit that you need assistance and to ask for it, however, can be difficult. Before you can comfortably do so, you may have to recognize that no one is capable of doing everything themselves and that delegation does not mean giving up control. As you create a support network, you'll discover that each task you delegate to another reduces the pressure you're under and frees you to devote more of your attention to that which is truly important to you."