Day to day, I try and live my life with empathy and openness toward others. I wave to my friends, I smile at strangers, I say "hello, how are you?" to authority figures. I am polite, I am kind, and I am constantly making sure that others are doing okay. That's great, right? Looking out for people, that's what this world needs. A little more support and a few more genuine people, but when does it reciprocate? Too often, the givers feel a little shorthanded. It's a simple concept. As givers, we give, give, give, while others take, take, take,and seemingly, the generosity and empathy is never fully returned.
That's why it is good to be selfish. I am queen of not being able to say no to others asking favors because I want to help in any way I can. I feel like I've let people down knowing I could help them but I cannot. But hey, sometimes I have to shine the spotlight back on my needs, on my life, and my priorities. It's not easy shifting my mindset back toward what I need most, but at the end of the day, it is my life I lead, and I should be the happiest I can be.
It does not matter the circumstance; there are all aspects of life where we could make sure we're doing okay. It is important to give yourself these little check-ins, to make sure that you're not slipping or straying too far from who you truly are. I've stopped worrying about how other people view me and how other people feel about who I am. You like me? That's freaking awesome. You're not my biggest fan? I could really care less. I have other things to be concerned about.
From my health, to my well-being, to my grades, to my happiness on the soccer field, I have so many priorities that I need to stay in tune with. I want to make sure that I can be the best version of myself, and that said, I do not need to follow anyone else's lead but my own.
So now you think, I think I'm Queen B, I can do whatever I want. Wrong. I know my boundaries and my limits. I know that I need to be a good friend, a good sister, a good roommate, a good daughter, but I need to treat myself the way I want to be treated. If I do not respect and carry myself in a way that I am proud of, who will take me seriously? If I am squirming in my own skin, what does that say about who I am? When you start to focus on yourself in such a prioritized manner, you will see more fall into place than you could ever imagine. Who needs plans when you have confidence and trust in your own self?
Life moves in the most obscure directions and leads you to the most incredible things when you least expect it. Stop looking for outcomes you desire and start trusting who you are. We all could benefit from it for a little while.
