Here's why being selfish isn't always a bad thing.
When was the last time you said, "no" to doing a task, joining an organization or going out when you needed to study or getting fast-food with friends, when you know that's not going to fuel your body later? I am extremely guilty of never saying no, especially when someone close to me needs something from me. I say yes for fear of disappointing them, FOMO (fear of missing out - yes, that is a real thing and yes, it is a very serious condition), and thinking that there are more hours in a day than there actually are. 24 hours goes by at the speed of light when you have 10,000 things to do and 546 places to be.
Now, on the reverse side. when was the last time you said "yes" to the gym, "yes" to a study date or "yes" to running for a leadership position in one of your organizations? These are small examples that lead to big differences in your life.
Sometimes saying "no" to someone else is saying "yes" to yourself and, no, that does not make you selfish.
Here are ten important reasons why you should put yourself first before committing yourself to others. They just might help change your perspective and help you have the best semester yet.
1. You are not required to light yourself on fire to keep others warm.
2. There are some days when you can only please one person, and that person should be you.
3. Saying "yes" to your happiness means saying "no" to the things and people that stress you out.
4. Falling in love with yourself first does not make you vain or selfish, it makes you indestructible.
5. You cannot pour from an empty cup.
In other words, if you do not take care of yourself first, you cannot take care of others to the best of your ability. You will have nothing to offer them.
6. If you are passive about your priorities, then someone will come along and rule you with theirs.
7. How you treat yourself is how you are inviting the world to treat you.
If you treat yourself with the love, respect and admiration you deserve then others will reciprocate.
8. Friendship is all the time, not just when it is convenient for the other person.
You have the right to terminate toxic relationships.
9. There is a difference between who you love, who you settle for and who you are meant for.
The only people that belong in your life are those who are going to push you to be the best that you can be, so surround yourself with people who priorities mirror yours.
10. At the end of the day, you are the only person that you can count on 100% of the time, so you deserve to be cared for, loved and prioritized 100% of the time.
As The Biebs himself says, "You should go and love yourself," and that is exactly what I plan to do.
