You’ll Be Surprised by What Happens
Stop putting yourself last! Your life will change and even though people will call you selfish. You are not selfish; you are now giving yourself priority. If you’ve ever felt like you’re the last priority in your life, you’re far from alone. Most people feel that way at some point. It’s easy to get so caught up in helping others and taking care of them that we forget about ourselves. We all have the natural inclination to put other people first because it feels good, but what happens when we consistently put others ahead of ourselves? We begin resenting those same people we are continually sacrificing for. Our relationships begin to suffer and strain at the seams because of being overextended and undervalued. At this breaking point, most of us will panic and try to repair everything we are putting second behind everyone else’s needs.
What You Should Know Before You Quit Putting Yourself Last
First, take a moment to reflect on what’s happening in your life right now. Ask yourself, “Why am I putting myself last?” and “What will happen if I keep going like this?” If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll find that there are usually two types of reasons people get so caught up in putting others first. The first is feeling like you don’t have the ability to help anyone. You may feel inadequate or that what you have to offer is not enough to make a difference in someone else’s life. The second is feeling like you have a duty or obligation to do so. Perhaps you grew up in a family or with a role model that always put others first and you feel obligated to continue that tradition. Stop putting yourself last!
Your Health Is Telling You to Quit Putting Yourself Last
When you put yourself last in your life, you are putting yourself at risk for developing a wide range of health problems. You may notice that you have more aches and pains than you used to. You may find that you have a harder time falling asleep or staying asleep. You may feel more stressed and anxious than normal. You may notice that you have difficulty focusing on your work or hobbies because your mind is constantly wandering. All of these can be signs that your health is suffering because you are not giving it the time and attention it needs. You may also notice that you have a harder time connecting with other people. This can be frustrating because you may have the desire and motivation to form strong and healthy relationships but find that you simply cannot.
Relationships Will Suffer
Healthy relationships are made up of giving and taking. Stop putting yourself last. They should always be a healthy balance of both parties giving and receiving. When you are constantly giving and never receiving, though, your relationships will eventually suffer. People want to feel valued and appreciated in their relationships. They want to feel like they are making a positive difference in each other’s lives. When one person is doing the majority of the giving and the other person is doing the majority of the receiving, that imbalance is going to cause problems. And although you may be trying to help them out and make them happy, it can actually create resentment instead. A survey conducted by the National Institutes of Health found that people who are in relationships where they are doing more than their fair share of giving actually experience lower levels of happiness.
Your Career Is Telling You To Quit
If you’re putting yourself last in your life, you’re probably not making the time and energy you need to advance in your career. As you get more and more behind on your work, you’ll be forced to make impulsive decisions or put in extra hours when you really don’t have the time. This can lead to feelings of exhaustion, anxiety, and resentment in your relationships. If you are constantly trying to catch up on everything that’s behind you, you are missing out on the opportunity to network and make meaningful connections with people that could help advance you in your career.
Conclusion
When you put yourself last in your life, you are denying yourself your basic needs. You are not eating enough, getting enough sleep, or giving yourself regular self-care. This will start to catch up to you physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s important to take care of yourself and learn to put yourself first in your life. If you find that you are constantly putting yourself last and hurting as a result, you owe it to yourself to make some changes. Start by taking a look at your schedule and making room for self-care. Try to find time each week to do something nice for yourself. When you make yourself a priority, you’ll find that you’re actually helping others more than you ever could by putting yourself last.
