There is a lot of talk about self-care on this blog, but the truth is that self-care begins with prioritizing yourself. There are a lot of benefits to making yourself a priority. On the other hand, if you ignore your needs and put the needs of others first, many problems can arise.
The consequence of putting others before yourself is people-pleasing. Whenever we try to please people, we lose our sense of identity and get taken advantage of. As a result, you are more likely to say yes to things you really want to say no to.
Let’s talk about the benefits of making yourself a priority before we look at how to do so.
Why You Need To Make Yourself A Priority
If you truly want to love yourself and respect yourself, you must put yourself first. We can also influence how others treat us by how we treat ourselves. It is also important to carry yourself in a certain manner for people to treat you the same. However, if you appear to not care too much about yourself, then others will not feel the need to either, because it appears that you don’t care.
In some cases, this might not be possible, for example, if you have a child or a family. There may be times when you will have to prioritize them, however, this is referred to as a compromise, and sometimes they will reciprocate. The act of prioritizing others means sacrificing your own wants or needs to please them, even if it hurts you. This article discusses the reason for people-pleasing in detail.
You can build a loving relationship with yourself when you make yourself a priority. You gain self-confidence, you gain a greater sense of meaning in doing things, and you discover more about your strengths.
Is It Selfish To Make Yourself A Priority?
Putting yourself first is not in any way selfish, despite what most people think. Have you ever thought that spending time improving yourself can benefit those around you too? In order to take care of those around you, you must first take care of yourself.
As an example, if you prioritize yourself in terms of making more money, those around you may also benefit. Therefore, it’s not selfish. Remember, you can’t keep pouring from an empty cup. By filling yourself up first, you can fill up others.
How Do You Love And Prioritize Yourself?
1. Take ‘Me Time’ Seriously
Make sure you take time for yourself whenever necessary and enjoy it to the fullest! If you’re like me, I usually need a little space after spending time with others. In ‘me time’, you can do anything you like, whether it is studying new things, hobbies, relaxation, crafts, simply relaxing, or making something to eat or drink. Whatever your interests are, make clear time for them unapologetically. This is one of the ways you’ll begin to love yourself better since you’ll get to know yourself better.
2. Stop Going With The Flow
Do you know what the saying is, “only dead fishes go with the flow”? Yes, that’s right! Going with the flow of other people’s plans is a quick way to get taken for granted and losing respect. Let your standards reflect your values and principles instead of being down for whatever comes your way. You shouldn’t feel compelled to do something, see someone, or go somewhere simply because someone asks you.
3. Learn How To Say No
This is a part of going with the flow. Saying no and being firm about it are two important skills. Don’t give in to the temptation to do something you don’t want. Your tendency to change your mind easily is something people will recognize and know they only have to ask several times before you agree. There are some ideas that illustrate how to say no politely if you think giving a flat no is rude.
4. Start Making Your Own Decisons
You can learn how to prioritize yourself by learning to make your own decisions. When you invite too many people into your decision-making process, they can project their own beliefs onto you. Nonetheless, taking advice from people who wish you the very best is fine, but it is equally important for you not to let other people give you uninvited advice. Your goals and dreams should guide your decisions. In other words, start living life for yourself.
5. Make Time For Self-Care
When learning how to put yourself first, it is essential to schedule time for self-care activities. The essence of self-care is to relax and nourish yourself. The goal is to ensure a person’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing is restored to its optimal level. Treat yourself to the best you can provide. Taking this step will force you to take your own needs into account.
6. Stop Feeling Guilty
It’s possible that you will feel guilty once you start doing these things. If you are someone who likes to please others, it can be really hard to do. The problem is you have trouble creating boundaries and setting limits. It is not uncommon for people to try to make you feel bad for choosing yourself over them. Don’t be afraid to stand your ground. Your loved ones should be pleased that you are meeting your needs and prioritizing your life.
7. Create Strong Boundaries
Establishing boundaries will help you avoid situations you do not want to be in. The moment we do not set boundaries, we are inviting everything into our lives, good and bad alike. There are exercises you can take to better understand what matters to you. By knowing what matters to you, you will be able to create some boundaries. You can also do some self-discovery homework. When you know yourself, putting boundaries against things that aren’t aligned will be much easier.
8. If You Need Help, Ask
In all this, remember to ask for help whenever necessary. Being your own priority doesn’t mean alienating yourself. Build a network of trusted and dependable friends, people you can be yourself around. Our guards are much more heightened when we’re surrounded by the wrong people and nobody needs that.
9. Don’t Forget To Treat Yourself
Treat yourself to a gift just because! It’s vital for you to develop a loving relationship with yourself. Simply start doing things that make you happy, such as solo dates, picnics, and go on trips. Having a happy life is well deserved.
10. Feel What You Feel
You should not disregard your feelings or invalidate them. It is important that you are heard. The best way to not prioritize yourself is to ignore them. It’s okay to feel your sadness, your joy, process everything, and move on. In addition, if people are not supportive of your emotions, remove them from your life. The best way to put yourself first is to be true to yourself.
In Conclusion
If you’ve ever wondered what is the meaning of make yourself a priority, all that really means is building a healthy loving relationship with yourself by recognizing your worth and that you are deserving of everything good.
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