We often hear the idea of "self love" and during stressful times how it is important to pause and take a moment to care for yourself. We all have different versions of what we consider to be self love. Maybe, it is treating yourself to that extra Starbucks of the week, or taking 30 minutes out of your day to just meditate.

We all need love, compassion to survive in the world. The importance of it is equivalent to water and food. We cannot grow or be health without a factor of love in our lives. So take time for yourselves. Call the shoots for once. And please, be a selfish person once in a while.

We are asked so often to give, but when was the last time you stopped and truly started giving back to yourself? Thought to yourself, What does *insert your name* need today. Maybe that is asking a co-worker to cover half of your shift so you can binge watch some Netflix, or better yet squeeze in a nap. Maybe that is sneaking an extra item into the 10 items or less line to avoid the line. It is okay to think about yourself for once. Its not going to earn you a one way ticket to hell. Sometimes you need to be the number one person in your life. And that is totally acceptable and okay.

Give back. Be a decent human in the world. Care and love. But do not let putting others feelings in front of yours destroy you. Your self health, your physical health and happiness matters just as much as theres. Your coworker needs you to take a shift so they can study? But you also have a lot on your plate that week, don't do it. It is okay to say no. It is okay to be the "bad" person for once by thinking about yourself.

Think of your body as a horcrux . Every time you do something for someone else you are giving away a piece of you to them. At times, it will help you grow. It will make you stronger. For instance, volunteering. Seeing another person's happiness will make you get that goody-gooey feeling inside that we all love. However, like a horcrux , the more you give away of yourself the weaker you can become. Don't let yourself become bone and skin. Let there still be substance to you. There is only so much you can give before you no longer exist.

So, don't let that person turn left when it is obviously your turn. Take a day off of work to just enjoy a video game. Blow off meeting with a group to catch up on sleep. Put yourself first for once.

You can be selfish without being a bad person. At the end of the day, it is your mental and physical health.