The importance of looking after yourself

It's just starting to dawn on me that it's important to put myself first when it matters. There is a quote out there that goes along the lines of "we are all our own harshest critic". This small piece of wisdom is something that I should pin in everyplace I can fit a sticky note - because I am pretty sure I spend a sizable chunk of my day berating myself.

A lot of it is about self-respect. This simple little amalgam of a word has a lot going for it, and a lot of things that are involved with it.

If I decide I want to do something that is for myself (and really want to do it) and if it doesn't directly affect anybody else - then I should do it. If I like something then I should freely express it. If I really don't want to do something then I should not do it. It is not healthy to let oneself be diverted. To let it happen often, or on a regular basis, erodes at one's own sense of self and one's sense of control.

Of course there are times when you should compromise - we all need to do this, people cannot always agree. But there is an element of respect in allowing other people their choices. Sometimes your decisions or actions will make others unhappy, but there is no point in curtailing if it will be you that is unhappy at the end.

I have decided that I am going to enforce the choices that I make, and carry them through. I am tired of being disappointed in myself for not doing it.

There's one person that we all have no choice about living with - ourselves - so we need to make sure that that we keep a happy crew.