Everyone has a breaking point and that point is different for each situation and different for each person.

I have an extended breaking point. I give people the benefit of the doubt, I have a lot of patience and I care about other’s happiness a lot, maybe to a fault. I give to the point of neglecting my own needs. I’ve been making great improvements in that area; I’m beginning to take care of myself better.

Sometimes, maybe often, when you make changes that support your best health those around you find it inconvenient – they find you selfish if you’re unavailable for their needs. Don’t let that halt your self-care. Self-care is not selfish.

Think of times when someone said or did something to you that felt uneasy, rude, aggressive and even offensive. Remember how that made you feel deep inside your belly? Your head? What kind of response did you have? Did you defend yourself or did keep it inside to fester and mess with your peace? Maybe someone sat in your home and arrogantly snickered at your accomplishments or your certificates on display that made them roll their eyes and poke fun as if your accomplishments were no great feat. Maybe it was your family member who never asked how you were doing or if you dared to mention that you felt off that day, they disregarded you and turned the subject to be all about them. Is your time taken advantage of or disrespected? Are your professional services treated with disregard? Are you often talked down to? Does someone too often disagree with your opinions, statements or feelings? Do they deny saying or doing something that you know for a fact they said or did? The people that behave that way are not your people.

You aren’t responsible for anyone’s gratification, happiness, sense of superiority, nor do you need to play along. It’s not your job to be uplifting to anyone’s insecurities. Your job is to uplift your consciousness. Fulfill your desires, dreams, goals and accomplishments – no one can do that for you, just as you can’t for anyone.

I’ve beat myself up over the years by first being available for everyone at any given moment and then by allowing them to insult, discourage and use me and my time. I followed that with being angry at myself for not standing up for my best health, both mentally and physically. Somewhere along the way, more recently, I have had enough, I broke. I broke those behaviors that hurt me and decided that it’s time to finally take care of myself first so that I may be more in touch with those I choose to help in the future. I have found who is for me and who is not for me.

I can be angry that it took so many years and so many abuses but that doesn’t help me; it doesn’t erase history nor experiences. I choose to start today with the knowledge and sophistication that I have brought to existence personally.

Don’t be a punching bag. Don’t disregard and underplay your accomplishments and needs to suit anyone else no matter what. Be your true and beautiful, best self.

Every new day is a chance to start over. Every New Dawn begins again.