1. Ask for help with the full expectation that some how, in some way that help will be given

The key point here is to ask as though you really do want the help. Don't ask in a way that is apologetic, victim like or pleading - instead ask in a way that helps you to feel empowered and that you can deal with whatever answer comes your way.

It's absolutely great to have the full expectation that the answer may well be yes. Of course for this expectation to hold true it's worth knowing who you are asking for that help. You'll want to determine that person is in a position to help you and that they may well want to help you.

There's the old adage, if you don't ask, you don't get.

2. Asking for help is an act of self-love and self-affirmation

It's impossible to do everything yourself and therefore asking for help is an act of self-love because you are stepping out of the realm of being super woman or super man. It's an act of self-love and self-affirmation because asking for help helps you to take care of your emotional and physical health and wellbeing. It's about being kind enough to yourself to know that taking those few moments to sit down in meditation, or taking an extra half an hour in bed or an extra fifteen minutes in the bath, or an extra ten minutes to read helps to make you an even better person. And here's a secret for you - it's O.K to love yourself and to be kind to you.

3. In asking for help it takes you out of a place of isolation.

Too many of us as parents sit in splendid isolation thinking that this is our rightful place. The truth is the more we feel confident about asking for help and actually take action to ask for help the more likely we are to be more productive, more at peace, better parents, better husbands, wives, partners.

Even as a writer for example, spending some time in the library writing with people milling around, children and adult voices in the background, the sound of other people's keyboard strokes, experiencing a bigger, more open and well lit environment certainly takes me out of the solitary experience of writing. Taking yourself out of isolation opens up so many possibilities.

It would be interesting to know what you could do today to step outside of any isolation tendencies you have. Take action today and see what happens.

4. Important to let go of being super-woman or super-man

What does being a super woman or super man mean to you in your life? How do you give the impression that you are super human? Are you burning the candle at both ends - late to bed - early to rise? Do you have a habit pattern of saying yes to everything - forgetting that no is a word that is equally valid when appropriate.

5. Remember that it is absolutely o.k. to ask for help

It would be worth making a note to yourself about when you would like to ask for help and are not currently doing so. Against each item on this list it would be useful to write down what you need to do/get over in order to ask for the help you need.

It would also be useful to make a list of people or organizations you could ask for help and note down what help you could ask them for.