Mayday!: Asking for Help in Times of Need

First time author Klaver begins this self-help with a search for archetypes that sets up her refreshing, Jungian take on the emotional potholes that make asking for help a difficult-at times impossible-task. Thoughtful exercises and vignettes guide readers toward an understanding of help as an opportunity ""not only to get my needs met but... to be touched by another soul."" As such, she looks at what makes asking for help ""a universally dreaded endeavor"" (""We were never taught how,"" ""We have few models,"" ""We love our independence"") and then goes a step further to address the roots of these excuses: fear of surrender, shame and separation. The bulk of the work looks to build confidence in readers by examining each step of the asking process: recognizing the need, getting motivated, formulating the question and going easy on yourself, to name a few. Klaver encourages readers to separate and examine various emotional states, and call on ""applied virtues"" like self-compassion and faith to transform body, mind and behavior. With lyric, accessible prose, Klaver fleshes out a seemingly narrow topic to provide an unusual angle on human interaction and emotion.