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Learning to Prioritize Myself
Why Taking Care of Yourself Matters
I am my highest priority.” When I first heard that phrase, it didn’t sit well with me. It sounded almost selfish like something only a person who doesn’t care about others would say. For years, I had been the one who always put others first, who said yes when I wanted to say no, and who did what was expected of me, even when I was running on empty. I thought that’s just what you did if you cared, right? You give and give until there’s nothing left.
But one day, I realized something: I was giving so much to everyone else that I had forgotten to take care of myself. I was exhausted, stressed, and honestly, a little lost. I didn’t even know what I wanted anymore only what was expected of me. And so, I started to question: What if I put myself first for once?
The first time I tried it, it felt weird. Almost like I was breaking some invisible rule. I said no to a commitment, took time for myself, and honestly, I felt guilty. Like I was letting people down. But slowly, something started to shift. I began to notice that when I took care of my own needs when I stopped trying to please everyone else all the time I felt more… myself. More energized. More capable. I realized that when I was drained, I didn’t have much to give, no matter how much I wanted to.