Why You Should Do What is Best for You
Happy Monday!
Today, I’m going to get pretty serious on the blog. In college, and even beyond, we are so bent on pleasing everyone; our family and friends, that we forget that we are the ones in control of our lives, and that the only person we should be out pleasing, is ourselves. It is important that you are the first person you do anything for. You need to put yourself first and foremost in your mind, here’s why.
Now, it is much easier said than done to put yourself first. It’s also not easy to see that you’re not putting yourself first. That’s right, you can be so focused in your life that you forget to take care of yourself.
I’ve been there. I didn’t believe Matt when he told me he noticed I was putting myself first. I literally asked him “I have been putting myself first?” I hadn’t even noticed, but when he told me I had been, I felt weird. I felt in control of myself, for once.
It is very important to do what is best for you, and I’ve been learning that fact during this semester. It isn’t always going to be easy, there will be some hard choices. You have to make the choice, and make the choice that is best for you. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to take into account other people in your life {you significant other, family, etc}, but you should never make an important decision solely based on someone else’s opinion.
So, why should you put your own happiness and mental health at the top of your list? Well, because that’s {supposed to be} the natural thing to do! No, but seriously, mental health is so, so, so incredibly important. Without realizing it, you not putting yourself first, you will never reach your full potential of happiness, it just won’t happen. You also will start to feel like you’re not in control of your life, because you basically aren’t. If you’re aiming to please everyone else around you, you will spend a lot of your time in worry about decision you have to make. You will be wrought with fear of disappointing everyone around you, but if you let that influence your decisions, you will not make the decisions that are best for you. Everyone who cares about you, just wants you to do what is best for you; they want you to be happy.
I’m going through something similar. I was struggling because I didn’t want to disappoint anyone; I felt everyone was so proud of me and I didn’t want that to go away. I was very down and just was not happy with how everything was going. So, I did what any distraught college student would do, I called my mom. She told me that she was proud of me regardless, and would be proud of me for doing what I wanted to. If something wasn’t working out, then I shouldn’t continue it. {Don’t worry, I’ll actually go through this story sometime soon, once everything is settled} My point is, you are the person who has to live with the choices that you make, and it’s your happiness on the line.
If you haven’t yet, I hope you realize that you, and your mental health, are so important! Reach out to your parents, a friend, even me! {I’m always willing to lend an ear, and maybe some advice, if needed!} Always do what is best for you and your life; follow your heart, and your gut. Take control of your mental health and your happiness. It’s your life, live it the way you want to!
Have you put yourself first recently? What are some of your tips to keep yourself at the top?
-XOXO
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This is great advice. I'm a person who ALWAYS thinks of others first and then I wonder why I get unhappy. I hate feeling guilty, but I do all the time because I'm so worried about other people. It's not selfish to take care of yourself, it's necessary. Thanks for the awesome reminder!
I completely agree that it's important to focus on your mental health! I currently feel so overwhelmed, and I have done it to myself by being over involved. Something has to give!XO, SS || Seersucker Sass
This is so great. I was actually talking about this with my mom today. It's so essential to put yourself first because, when you're happy, you have the ability to make others happy! xolaurenThe Fashionista's Diary
Ooh, I feel this. I struggle a lot with putting myself first, and finding balance when doing so (as in, supporting and helping others without compromising your own needs). Good for you for finding a way!
So much truth behind this!
It can be really hard to remember to put yourself first and to take care of yourself (mental, physical etc.) It's important to find time to tune in!
What a powerful read!! I think this is something that can be so hard to do and yet is so essential to your happiness and health!xo Ashley
This is a great post! I've always been a people pleaser and vowed to make 2016 a year of a little more selfishness. It's been great so far – I think I've found somewhat of a balance!
Love, love, love this post. Putting your health before everything else is so hard to do but also so incredibly important. I have a hard time with this occasionally but as soon as I realize it I usually try to give myself a break ASAP!Kayla | kaylablogs.com
Mental health is so important. There have been times in my life I have focused on others and let my own balance and well being disintegrate, I'm becoming a lot better at prioritizing myself. Caring for your well being doesn't have to be a "mean thing", it's what you have to do!
It can be so challenging at times when you feel like you are going through something and there's no one you can turn to. I always turn to my family in hard times and find that they always know just how to talk to me and make me understand the important things in life.Marlywww.GirlyLove.org
Thank you for the reminder! I wouldn't say I haven't put myself first lately, but I could do it more often. If I'm not happy with myself, how am I going to be happy with others? Great article!-MorganHow 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com
So so true and can take many years to learn to put yourself first!“Your 20’s are your ‘selfish’ years. It’s a decade to immerse yourself in every single thing possible. Be selfish with your time, and all the aspects of you. Tinker with shit, travel, explore, love a lot, love a little, and never touch the ground.” <3
What a great reminder! It can be so easy to get caught up in what everyone else is going through and forget to focus on yourself.
I think people are afraid to be take care of themselves because they fear being selfish. You have to learn how to balance your life to benefit yourself!Shagunagold&hearts
This is honestly coming at the best time for me right now, so thank you! I always struggle with trying to please everyone and lately I've been feeling like I'm being stretched a little too thin! I finally made some serious decisions that will save me some stress, so hopefully things will work out. Thank you for this post! :)xoSamiwww.theclassicbrunette.blogspot.com
This is beautiful, and something that I am also going through at the same time. I have been such a "people pleaser" my entire life, that I am just now finding out that in order to be successful, I might have to make sure that I am content and taken care of. I know that being selfish is a bad trait, but sometimes you have to do what you need. Wonderful post!Ashlee Lizwww.ashleeliz.com