Throughout life we are told that we should always think of others, which is something we should do, of course. Human kindness is a wonderful thing and you should always consider other people. But many of us become focused on the satisfaction of the people in our lives that we forget to do things for our own happiness. I asked people about experiences they've had when they were held back from something they wanted to do or someone they wanted to be because they cared more about others than they did about themselves.

"I was friends with a group of people that prevented me from realizing my true potential. All of my energy was spent trying to be the person that they would accept and welcome into their clique rather than becoming the person that I wanted and needed to be."

"I was friends with someone who liked to ditch school and I got behind with my schoolwork because I was to focused on being cool and having fun."

"I missed an audition because my friends told me I needed to hang out with them instead."

There are times when we become consumed with the social aspect of life. How we want to look, who we want to be seen with, and what what people think of us. That we surround ourselves with people we'd rather be seen with than actually be with.

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"My friend was having a mental breakdown so I couldn't go to a job interview."

"I stayed in a toxic relationship for months because he needed me, I stayed for his happiness even when I was putting my own at risk."

"I missed out on opportunities to go out because I needed to take care of my sister."

We all make sacrifices for the ones we care for. We have been taught since the beginning that you must always take care of others. But not many of us know how to take care of ourselves. Your purpose in life is not to make others happy, it is not what you're here for.

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"I spent most of my time helping others with their schoolwork I forgot about my own and my grades suffered because of it."

"Because of a family trip I had to miss a conference that would've gotten me connections in my field."

"My ex-boyfriend told me I couldn't pursue a modeling career with Victoria's Secret because he didn't want others to see me like that."

"I stopped trying to become a director after my parents told me they didn't think that was a good choice."

Have you ever been on an airplane, and they go through the safety precautions and they tell you that you have to put your oxygen mask on first before you try and help someone else? They tell parents all the time that you have to put your mask on before putting it on your child. As a parent you think, how could I even think about saving myself before my child? But putting your mask on first will actually help more, because you can breathe and focus on helping them once you are taken care of. It's the same way throughout life. How can you make others happy when you won't make yourself happy?