I was fortunate enough to be raised by parents that are incredibly kind, loving and generous. Needless to say, I’m pretty confident that a lot of that rubbed off on me growing up as well.

But with that, the tendency to be willing to bend over backwards in order to please everyone around me also became a necessity.

I’m a people-pleaser by heart. Which generally, I do believe is something to strive for. But it can’t come at a cost. I have work to do, services to provide and a valuable obligation to be the best man I can be. And if I’m being totally honest, if I’m only concerned with how others think of me all the time, I can’t be the person that I know I’m meant to be.

I noticed recently that I was trying so hard to accommodate everyone else around me that I became totally unaware of me. Lost myself for a moment. 

By being constantly concerned with everyone else’s feelings, you’re immediately putting them before you. You’re literally telling yourself that you’re not as valuable. Isn’t that how anxiety starts? Constantly worrying about everyone else – and then we forget to look in the mirror and love ourselves? 

So if you’re not valuing yourself, how can you actually be as valuable to others. At some point, it’s going to become insincere and you’re going to start resenting everyone and everything.

Take care of yourself. Value you. 

And just because you do so doesn’t mean you’re devaluing anyone else. It’s actually more likely to increase your output of love for all… Including you.