The Golden Rule is to treat others as you want to be treated.

Sometimes though, it seems like you are giving your heart and soul to the world, and nothing is coming back to you.

I know this feeling very well. Selflessness is one thing I pride myself on very deeply. I am known as the friend who will drop everything to go help someone else. I have answered calls at 5am, and stayed up with a friend in need. I have driven around friends who don't have cars to run errands for literally whatever. I volunteer my countless hours, expect nothing in return, and lives my days not knowing my own personality. When people ask interesting things about me, I can never think of anything. I know they are there, but in the moment all I can think of is interesting things I've done for others, not for me. I never think to be selfish, because well- that's selfish.

We confuse being selfish with being vain.

When I thought of being selfish it would be that everything was about me, that I would be annoying, and need everything for myself. I would look at girls who were super privileged and see them complaining about something and think that was sole selfishness. What we need to know is that being vain and being selfish are vastly different.

Being vain is being materialistic. Acting like you are the greatest gift to this earth. It's being narcissistic and conceited. The dictionary definition of "Vain" is as follows:

having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth.

Being selfish is doing things for yourself, without regard for others. While this usually is associated with a negative connotation, it isn't always a bad thing. If you are a person that gives and always worries about what others believe, think, or feel, being selfish isn't a bad thing.

Being selfish isn't taking candy from a baby. It also isn't cry about what you did or didn't get for Christmas. Being selfish is doing things for yourself, and not others. It is staying up late to finish that craft you started so long ago. It is putting on a face mask that you got so long ago. It is going out and getting what you want, not letting someone else choose a restaurant. Being selfish is putting yourself first.

Putting yourself first isn't a bad thing.

Treat yourself how you want to be treated.