Hands down, the most important relationship you’ll have in your lifetime is the one you have with yourself. You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: unless you truly love and respect yourself how will you expect another person to love and respect you?
Of course, it’s important to be a good friend/sister/daughter/girlfriend/wife, but you have to take care of yourself before being able to take care of others. They don’t say to put your oxygen mask on before helping others for no reason, folks. So, what is it that YOU need?
Do you take the time to nourish yourself and take care of yourself? Do you take days off? Do you allow yourself to have alone time to recharge? Have you taken the time to really get to know yourself to learn what it is that you, not just want, but need?
It’s easy to get caught up in a new relationship, for example, and put your needs to the side. We’ve all been there. However, if you take a step back to check in with yourself, you’ll be able to enjoy your relationship that much more because you know who you are in a deeper way.
And this certainly doesn’t only apply to new relationships. Even when in a marriage for many years, it’s important to not let your needs fall to the wayside. If you want to be the best partner you can possibly be, self love and self care is crucial.
Do you have plans every night of the week, yet you are totally an introvert and actually recharge best when you’re alone? Say ‘no’ to some invites. You won’t lose friends or make anyone mad simply by saying you aren’t up for going out one night. On the flip side, do you stay in the majority of the nights, but you’re craving a night out? Well, make a plan and get yourself out of the house.
While this is just one scenario, you can apply it to many areas of your life. Take some time to really think about what it is that YOU want, that YOU need. This will benefit not just yourself, but all relationships in your life.
Try to think about this as the day and week goes on and all throughout the year. Make it YOUR year.