Self-advocacy: Put yourself first

Have you ever thought about why many people are not ready to prioritise themselves over others? Or why aren’t people prepared to accept when others do something which solely benefits them?

It is okay to prioritise yourself over anyone. People would place judgments on whatever thing you do. Doing the other something because people would judge you wouldn’t take you anywhere. It would just lead you to be judged differently. Also, a lot of people think caring only about yourself would lead to you being self-centric and cold-hearted. But being self-centric is okay. You don’t always have to put others’ needs above yours. It is okay to put your interests above others.

It is not always the others that you should care about. It is YOU who you must care about first. It is not being accepted by people that matter; it is self-acceptance that really matters. It is okay if only you accept who you are. It is okay if it is only you who embrace your actions. You don’t need to be accepted by people.

Self-care is not about giving yourself occasional treats or gifting yourself. It is a vital aspect of one’s overall well-being. It involves prioritising one’s own physical and emotional well-being. Have self-care at the top of your priority list. Learn to say no to people. You don’t always have to accept everyone’s suggestions. Also, you don’t have to agree with others’ perspectives just because you think disagreeing would make them feel bad. It is okay to say no to people.

Putting yourself first is not selfish but an essential component of your overall well-being. Self-prioritisation is not being selfish; it is just putting your own needs above others’. Embrace yourself rather than anyone else. Break the stigma of “You should always put others’ needs above your own”.