How I Had To Learn To Balance Caring For Others And Caring For Myself | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

How I Had To Learn To Balance Caring For Others And Caring For Myself

Caring too much can be a blessing but it can also be the biggest obstacle.

14
How I Had To Learn To Balance Caring For Others And Caring For Myself
Morgan Fox

Chances are if you clicked the link to this article that you are going to understand the feeling that I am trying to capture with my words. We are the people who want everyone else to be okay. We care.

We care too much.

It is a quality that I'm incredibly blessed to have but it is also a quality that can cause me a lot of anxiety. I was constantly being told "worry about yourself" or "it doesn't involve you so don't worry about it". Easy for them to say. It wasn't that I wanted it to be about me, I just wanted to know if they were okay because I cared. It was hard to hear these words repeatedly because in my head, I was doing nothing wrong but I felt like the people telling me these things treated me like I was doing something wrong. I just cared.

Fast forward to my current stage in life. I still have this big caring heart that gets me in trouble sometimes. There is one important thing that I've learned as I've grown up; boundaries. I've hard to learn how to balance caring and my own being. It can be incredible hard to be a person who cares too much and a person who is making sure they acknowledge their own being. I've learned that balance. Yes, it is okay to care. Yes, it is okay to love. Yes, it is okay to worry. All of these things are okay. But I've learned that I can't let those emotions impact my life. I can not spend all of my time consumed with others troubles or hardships. I can have a boundary to protect my own mental health but I can still be compassionate. This boundary is something that took me 16 years to learn. I did not understand how to balance showing that I care and knowing when I need to take care of myself. I still find myself struggling with this but I occasionally have to take some time to myself and regroup myself.

I'm sure many of you are familiar with this feeling of caring too much. You know what it is like to be sitting in a room physically but mentally, you are thinking about the person in your life who is making dangerous decisions. You are thinking, but what if I was able to say something that would make them stop. It's the hardest feeling in the world. You almost feel helpless. Please remember, if everyone in this world cared as much as you, the world would be a better place. Also remember, you are important and there is someone else in the world who cares just as much about you as you do about others. Don't forget to take a step back from all the caring you do and make sure you are taking care of yourself as well.

Never let someone tell you that caring too much is a bad thing because it certainly isn't. We are needed in this world.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

192669
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

16323
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

458982
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

27243
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments