Most of my life I took the role of being a peacekeeper in my family. Always stressing out about how everyone else was feeling. I would often sacrifice my own happiness for others. This way of thinking then spilled into other aspects of my life.

I was living like this for so long. I didn’t even fully understand the impact my way of thinking affected me until the end of a relationship forced me to rebuild myself, and fully evaluate who I was and how I wanted to move forward in my life.

There is a difference between being selfish and self-preservation. Taking care of your own needs is not selfish. It is okay to say no to people and situations that are not healthy for you and will stress you out.

I’ve learned that no matter how hard the decision is, make sure to choose what fits your needs regardless of what other people will think. Because at the end of the day, it is your life. You are going to have to live with the choices you make.