The Hidden Costs of Prioritizing Everyone Else's Needs Over Your Own
Hello, friend,
If you’re here, you may feel a little exhausted (or a lot)—and not the kind of tired that sleep can fix. I’m talking about soul-tired.
You’ve probably spent years making sure everyone else is okay… your partner, kids, parents, and colleagues. And somewhere along the way, you forgot about yourself.
I see you. And you’re not alone.
The Pattern No One Warned You About
Somewhere in your upbringing—whether it was spoken aloud or modeled—you were taught that putting your needs first was selfish. You learned to care for others before yourself. To be the dependable one. The helper. The strong one.
And if there was time or energy left, you could squeeze in something for yourself. But let’s be honest—there’s rarely anything left over.
No one ever told you it’s okay to put yourself first.
And while the world might applaud your selflessness…it’s quietly costing you everything.
What It’s Costing You (Even If No One Talks About It)
When we chronically ignore our needs in service of others, we lose connection to our true self—our intuition or inner wisdom.
In my twenties, I used to call myself “externally motivated.” I didn’t realize it at the time, but what I really meant was: I had no idea what I wanted. I knew how to please, how to produce, how to perform. But I didn’t know how to be with myself.
I didn’t know what felt good to me. What sparked joy. What made me feel alive.
That is the true cost of always putting others first. We build lives based on other people’s needs and desires—missing the chance to live out our own.
And the world? It doesn’t benefit from our sacrifice.
It suffers in the absence of our authentic selves.
What If You Could Reclaim Yourself?
What if you could come back to yourself—not all at once, but gently, piece by piece?
What if you could say yes to you?
This isn’t about walking away from your life.
It’s about re-entering it—with you at the center.
Start Small. But Start.
Ask yourself: “What’s the smallest action I can take today to serve myself first?”
If you’re in the thick of it, maybe it’s just taking a breath and remembering: I am human. I have a soul. And it has needs.
If you’ve got a little more space, maybe it’s saying no to a social event you don’t want to attend.
Or logging off 15 minutes early to sit with your dog in silence.
Whatever it is—it matters.
Each choice is a sacred act of remembering.
Your inner wisdom is still there, and it’s waiting for you to listen.
You’re Not Too Far Gone
You are not broken. You are not behind. And it’s never too late to come home to yourself.
Everything you need is already within you.
Our work is to open the windows to your soul so you can experience life from the inside out.
You deserve a life that feels like your own.
And I’m here to help you create that.
If this spoke to something deep inside you, and you want more, check out my free Awaken Your Inner Joy guided journal experience, and let’s stay connected.
