The act of self love

Greetings!

Doing something for others, especially my friends and family has always been my priority in life. I'm this kind of a person that would jettison his own plan and care for others to be cared for, that's who I am.

However, when I realized that I'm depriving myself of a whole lot of things because of others, I decided also to take good care of myself, even if it would not be much, let me also take care of myself.

Furthermore, there's a particular event that prompted me to have a rethink about how I always care for others and neglect my own needs and life.

Some time ago, while I was in university, I decided to venture into a business that would fetch me money which I would be able to make use of when the need arose for it.

Then, I was into a series of businesses, businesses such as supplying building materials, agric business and also buying of palm oil and to say the truth, I was really making money out of these aforementioned businesses.

However, one thing I realized with the profit I was then making from the businesses was that I only spend little out of it when the bulk of it goes to friends and family that need my assistance or one complaint or the other.

For many years, that was how I was living my life and to a certain extent, I was enjoying it as I believed I was into charity.

However, something prompted me to change and that was when one of those who I have been helping with my own hard earned money told me that he had bought a car. Although, when he told me this, I was happy for him and I wished him well.

But, when I got home, I asked myself a few questions and also had a personal retreat and it's then that I realized that atimes, one needs to first take care of himself and then look after others. Even though the bible asked us to love others but no more ourselves which is right.

So, ever since then, I decided to also love myself and that was the beginning of when I started taking good care of myself.

Now, if there is any proceeds from my businesses, I would first use it on myself before considering others who would only come to me only when they are in need and after their needs are sorted, they take to their heels and leave.

Although some of them tag me as a selfish person, that has not even affected me in any way as I still manage to take care of them even with my decision to always look first after myself.

In conclusion, looking after myself has now been the norm for me, after which I now look after others which to me is not about being selfish but also prioritizing one's needs as well.

This is my entry to week 206, episode 03 of the weekly Featured contest in the Hive Learners community.

Thanks for reading.

Picture is mine.