I have always been the type of person that will listen to anyone, and give my personal advice to them. Hey, it might not have always been right... but I always spoke my mind. Throughout my heart to hearts with my friends and my little sister, one reoccurring theme seemed to always pop up. This theme had to do with taking care of yourself and putting yourself before others.
You're probably thinking, "Wait a minute! That's not what the news tells me," "That's not what my teachers tell me!" or even "That's not what my parents tell me!" and you're correct. I grew up hearing the same thing in school and on various Television shows, which was "Put others before yourself." While this is true in some cases, constantly having this mindset could kill your mental health, as well as your happiness.
It is not selfish to take care of yourself, and your own well-being.
If you're the kind of person that always puts others before yourself without even realizing it, this may be a little harder to come to terms with. You constantly want to make others happy and make others' lives easier. Bringing other people happiness is what brings you happiness.
And that's totally okay!
...to an extent.
If making other people happy causes you to give up doing something you personally feel strongly or passionately about, then this may not be the best decision. Being involved in things that you love, and things that you do for your own happiness (no one else's) usually brings a sense of calmness to people's lives. Taking away these passions could cause a deeper pain. Yes, you will be making someone else happy, which may bring you happiness for a short span of time. But once that happiness fades away, you may have to make another sacrifice in order to bring this happiness back. Little by little, you may be sacrificing everything that makes you unique. If you really think about it, would you want to get rid of everything that makes you who you are, just to make someone else happy?
Of course not!
Will take care of yourself sometimes make someone else unhappy? Depending on the person you're affecting, it's possible; however, it is all temporary. The happiness this person will feel, the happiness you will feel, and even the sadness the person and you might feel are all temporary feelings. Your mental health is much more important. Your passions, your goals, your dreams, and your accomplishments should never be put second behind another person's happiness, no matter how important this person may be to you.
You are strong. You are unique. You will find happiness through the things you do for yourself, even if these things don't make others "happy." Live your life for YOU. Always.
