The more you care about yourself, the more you’ll be able to care about others. Caring for people first starts with self.

Picture this: You're on an airplane, cruising through the clouds. The flight attendant begins her safety demonstration, and she gets to the part about oxygen masks. "In case of an emergency," she says, "put your mask on first before assisting others." It seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? Shouldn't you help others first? But think about it: if you're struggling to breathe, how can you possibly help someone else? That's the essence of the quote above. It's about recognizing that to truly care for others, you must first care for yourself.

Imagine yourself as a candle in the darkness. Your flame flickers, casting light and warmth all around you. But if you neglect to protect your flame, if you let the winds of life blow too fiercely, your light dims until it's barely a spark. In that weakened state, you can't offer much to others. But when you nurture your flame, shield it from the gusts, feed it with self-love and care, your light shines brighter than ever. You become a beacon, guiding others out of their darkness.

ELEVATE
Free Resource: A step-by-step blueprint to realize your dreams

Think of it like tending to a garden. You can't expect your flowers to bloom if you neglect to water them, if you forget to give them sunlight and nutrients. In the same way, you can't expect to support and uplift others if you neglect to nourish yourself. Just as a garden flourishes under the care of a diligent gardener, your capacity to care for others blossoms when you prioritize your own well-being.

Consider the analogy of a pitcher and cups. You're the pitcher, filled with water. The cups represent the people in your life. If you keep pouring from an empty pitcher, eventually, there's nothing left to give. But when you replenish your pitcher, when you take the time to refill it with self-care and self-love, you can overflow, filling each cup to the brim and still having plenty left to share.

Think about the flight of an airplane again. When the oxygen masks drop down, you secure yours first, ensuring your own safety before assisting others. It's not selfishness; it's survival. By prioritizing your own well-being, you're better equipped to support those around you. You become stronger, more resilient, more capable of offering genuine care and support.

Now, this doesn't mean you should become self-absorbed or neglect the needs of others entirely. It's about finding balance. Just as a scale needs equal weights on both sides to stay steady, your life requires a balance between caring for yourself and caring for others. When one side becomes too heavy, the scale tips, and everything becomes unsteady.

So, how do you strike that balance? How do you prioritize self-care without neglecting your relationships and responsibilities? Take a moment to reflect on what self-care means to you. Is it carving out time for your passions and hobbies? Is it setting boundaries to protect your mental and emotional well-being? Is it practicing self-compassion and forgiveness? Consider how you can integrate these practices into your daily life, not as indulgences but as essential nourishment for your soul. How can you show yourself the same kindness and compassion that you so readily offer to others?

***

* To gain more inspiration and motivation for your personal growth journey, I recommend visiting my SMART goals page, which offers a wide range of goal ideas to help you establish new aspirations and achieve greater success in life. This list was crucial in the development of my own life goals list, consisting of 100 goals that I pursued for ten years.

Reading is Smart. Applying is Smarter:  Apply

Chief Editor

Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.

 
Actualize Your Potential
Get my simplified process for realizing dreams (The exact process that enabled me to achieve 100 life goals in 10 years)
GET IT FREE:
Access my Start With WHY workbook for free, designed to guide you toward your purpose and the person you are meant to become
expert_advice
Align With Your Why
Elevate In Your Inbox
Get actionable insights, best practices, and wisdom you can apply — No hype, No fluff. Just practical ideas that might change your life.

Read The Art of Fully Living

There's no going back-once you embark on the journey you're meant to live, it's impossible to settle for anything less than your dreams.

Click here to learn more

Elevate Your Achievement

Learn a better and smarter approach to setting and achieving goals. It's not just about what you want to achieve, but who you must become in the process.

Click here to learn more
Take The Free Test
Discover your areas for growth in just 5 minutes. Take the FREE self-evaluation test and pinpoint where to focus your efforts

Uplevel Your Game

Explore The Roadmaps

Access a self-paced online roadmap that turns big goals into realities, complete with daily study guides, actionable steps, and proven practices from the world's best minds
Reclaim your freedom, escape 9-5, and live the life you were meant to live — A self-paced roadmap with daily study guides, actionable steps, and proven practices
Join The Accelerator
Join a 10-week, personalized immersion that will accelerate your goal-attainment, elevate you to your next level, and turn your big dreams into reality.
Learn More
✉Contact
Thanks for reading. It makes a difference. A portion of all proceeds from our endeavors supports entrepreneurs in the developing world. View Impact...