You have to be self-interested in order to be selfless. You have to put yourself first if you want to be of use to other people. Rachel Bartholomew
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You, as much as anybody in the universe, deserve your love and affection. Buddha.
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Choose to put yourself first and make yourself a priority. It’s not selfish; it’s necessary. Keysha Jade
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Even when it seems that there is no one else, always remember there’s one person who never ceases to love you yourself. Sanhita Baruah
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Practice self-rescue first before you ‘help’ someone else. Maureen Joyce Connolly
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Your personal growth is the only thing that matters. You own and write your story; no one else does. Believe in your unique steps up the mountain. Brittany Burgunder
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If you are humble, you will put yourself first when taking care of yourself. Bryant McGill
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I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival. Audre Lorde
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Self-sacrifice? But it is precisely the self that cannot and must not be sacrificed. Ayn Rand
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As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. Marianne Williamson
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Selfishness at the expense of others is bad. Self-care for the betterment of others is good. Richie Norton
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The world’s greatest thing is knowing how to belong to oneself. Michel de Montaigne
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When you care for yourself first, the world will also find you worthy of care. Haemin Sunim
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Selfcare is so much more than a beauty regimen or an external thing you do. It has to start within your heart to know what you need to navigate your life. A pedicure doesn’t last, but meditating every day does. Carrie Anne Moss
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If you don’t value yourself, you’re not going to draw valuable things into your life. Robert Tew
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Find yourself first, like yourself, love yourself FIRST, & friendship & love will naturally find YOU. Mandy Hale Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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Don’t forget to tell yourself positive things daily! You must love yourself internally to glow externally. Hannah Bronfman
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Your solitude will be a support and a home for you, even in the midst of very unfamiliar circumstances, and from it you will find all your paths. Rainer Maria Rilke
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Self care equals success. You’re going to be more successful if you take care of yourself and you’re healthy. Beth Behrs
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Above everything else, genuinely love yourself first. Self-love is powerful and it’s the best love that you will ever have. When you love who YOU are, your relationships will be healthier and your life will be happier. Self-love sets the standard in how we allow ourselves to treat us and how we treat ourselves. Your happiness and well-being is important. Protect it by always valuing who you are! Stephanie Lahart Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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Put yourself at the top of your to-do list every single day, and the rest will fall into place. Unknown
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Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others. Christopher Germer
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You don’t need to buy yourself something every day. But you want to give yourself a gift every day. Rachel Jo
You can only get outside yourself by looking inside. Tonya Hurley
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You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first. Unknown
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If you own this story, you get to write the ending. Brené Brown
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Don’t count on others to love you. Love yourself first. Unknown
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If you have the ability to love, love yourself first. Charles Bukowski
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To gain self-respect, you need to put yourself first. Lorii Myers
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Value yourself first, and only then can you learn to value others. Charlyn Khater
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Lighten up on yourself. No one is perfect. Gently accept your humanness. Deborah Day
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Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option. Maya Angelou Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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I would no longer open my soul to people undeserving of it. Teresa Lo
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The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. Unknown
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A comparison is an act of violence against the self. Iyanla Vanzant
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Oftentimes, people have different definitions of what it actually looks like to prioritize yourself. Unknown
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Take time for yourself now, so you don’t have to do it later. Unknown
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Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. George Bernard Shaw Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete. Jack Kornfield
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Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of others. Jennifer Williamson
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Take time to do what makes your soul happy. Unknown
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How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you. Rupi Kaur
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Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live. Jim Rohn
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A person cannot be comfortable without their own approval. Mark Twain
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Self-care means giving yourself permission to pause. Cecilia Tran
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Real change will come when you focus on yourself. Ritu Ghatourey
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Self-care is how you take your power back. Lalah Delia
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Self-love is the source of all our other loves. Pierre Corneille
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You deserve the love you so freely give to others. Unknown
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Anything that costs you your inner peace is too expensive. Unknown
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Prioritizing yourself makes you more productive. Unknown
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If you prioritize yourself, you are going to save yourself. Gabrielle Union
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What I’m looking for is not out there but in me. Hellen Keller
Remember to Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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Don’t wait for a crisis to realize what matters most. Put yourself first right now. Because right now is all we have. Brittany Burgunder
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Self-trust is the first secret to success. Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Do something good for yourself today. You matter. Virginia Madsen
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Be kind to yourself. Be proud of yourself. Because you matter. What you do matters. You make a difference. Unknown
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Remember, it’s not a matter of whether or not you deserve it; it’s necessary! Unknown
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Self-care means considering yourself a worthwhile person and presenting yourself as valuable, capable, and deserving. In other words, self care seeks to redress an imbalance that develops when you don’t take proper care of yourself, whether by inattention or by choice. Arin Murphy-Hiscock
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Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel. Eleanor Brown
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The more you focus on yourself, the less you care about…[the stuff] around you. Nitin Namdeo
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Love yourself only a little longer until you can’t stand to love someone else. Kiera Cass
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Things will change when you start loving yourself and respecting your time and energy. Get to know your worth, and your value will go up. Germany Kent
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Time spent in self-reflection is never wasted it is an intimate date with yourself. Paul TP Wong
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Your soul needs time for solitude and self-reflection. In order to love, lead, heal and create, you must nourish yourself first. Linda Joy
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You always have to remember to take care of yourself first and foremost because when you stop taking care of yourself, you get out of balance and you really forget how to take care of others. Jada Pinkett Smith
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Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths. Etty Hillesum
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Until ‘you’ FULLY embrace who ‘you are,’ no amount of money, no person, or external things will EVER make you happy or bring you peace. Yvonne Pierre
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When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. This meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and habits, and anything that kept me small. My judgment called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving. Kim McMillen
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Everyone is responsible for making sure that they are taken care of and loved first. From there, we can all extend that love to others. Unknown
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Unless you fill yourself up first, you have nothing to give anybody. Therefore, it is imperative that you tend to your joy first. People are responsible for their own joy. When you tend to your joy and do what makes you feel good, you are a joy to be around and you are a shining example to every child and every person in your life. You don’t even have to think about giving when you are feeling joy. It is a natural overflow. Rhonda Byrne
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If I change myself, I will lose myself, and I won’t be who makes me happy. Cardi B Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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The root of productivity is in personal priorities. Know what matters to you and why. Melissa Steginus
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Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of themselves we give away. Barbara De Angelis
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Self-care is not a waste of time; self-care makes your use of time more sustainable. Jackie Viramontez
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I care for myself. The more solitary, friendless, and unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. Charlotte Brontë Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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Self-care is never a selfish act is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others. Parker Palmer
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When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, cares enough about yourself to make room for it in your life. Jean Shinoda Bolen
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Hugging yourself is the best kindness you could give the world. Loving yourself first is the best way to spread love. Holly Bourne
Self-Care Quotes for Your Mind and Body
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Caring for your body, mind, and spirit is your greatest and grandest responsibility. It’s about listening to the needs of your soul and then honoring them. Kristi Ling
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Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens. Louise Hay
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Looking after yourself is the greatest act of kindness you can give the world. Loving yourself first is the best way to spread love. Holly Bourne
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When you say ‘yes’ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself. Paulo Coelho
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How we care for ourselves gives our brain messages that shape our self-worth, so we must care for ourselves in every way, every day. Sam Owen
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When you start sacrificing yourself for other people, you make them a thief because they are stealing from you what you need and they don’t even know it. Iyanla Vanzant
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It is important that you recognize this and prioritize yourself instead of expecting other people to prioritize you. It is important that you recognize this and prioritize yourself instead of expecting other people to prioritize you. Unknown
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Caring for myself is not self-indulgence; it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare. Audre Lorde
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You should endeavor to give your body what it needs to be healthy, your mind what it needs to be peaceful and focused, and your soul what it needs to feel content. Dedeker Winston
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We can’t be all things to all people because we are everything to ourselves. Akiroq Brost
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Keep good company, read good books, love good things and cultivate soul and body as faithfully as possible. Louisa May Alcott Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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The soul usually knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind. Caroline Myss
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There is enough time for self-care. There is not enough time to make up for the life you’ll miss by not filling yourself up. Jennifer Williamson
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Do something every day that is loving towards your body and gives you the opportunity to enjoy the sensations of your body. Golda Poretsky
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Self-care is your fuel … Whatever the road ahead or your path, self-care keeps your motor running and your wheels turning. Melissa Steginus
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Rest is not idleness, and to sometimes lie on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. John Lubbock
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Evaluate your needs. What are they? Are they being met? If not, how can you meet your needs? Look after yourself and your needs before you try and look after others and their needs. You’ll be a lot more effective in whatever you do. Akiroq Brost
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Self-care is the number one solution to helping somebody else. If you are being good to yourself and your body and your psyche, that serves other people better because you will grow strong enough to lift someone else up. Mary Lambert Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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It’s very important to take care of yourself. Everyone’s lives are so busy. Take at least an hour a day to recharge and do whatever makes you better. For grown-ups, whether it’s a spa, sitting in a park with a book, or coffee, take time for yourself. Ana Ivanovic
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She decided that she wasn’t going to focus on always trying to please others. She felt determined to take the time to get to know, and love, herself. And she hoped that the warm glow of appreciation she always looked for might actually come from within. Phaedra Patrick
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In solitude, listen to your heart, for it speaks nothing but the truth at that moment. Michael Bassey Johnson
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Respect, Love, and Value yourself. Always remember to be good to yourself by taking care of yourself. Make yourself a priority, and know that it’s okay. Don’t feel guilty for loving yourself first! You’re just as important as anybody else. Stephanie Lahart
Quotes on Putting Yourself First
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The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule but to schedule your priorities. Stephen Covey
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There is a reason flight attendants tell you to put your mask on first in an emergency…you cannot be important to anyone else if you are not first and foremost important to yourself. Appreciate and love yourself then use that to do the same for others. Shelley K Wall
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It’s okay to take time for yourself. We give so much of ourselves to others, and we need to be fueled both physically and mentally. If we are in balance, it helps us in all our interactions. Faith Hill
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Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept. Anna Taylor
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Every one of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves. Diana, Princess of Wales
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Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott
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When you are compassionate with yourself, you trust in your soul, which you let guide your life. Your soul knows the geography of your destiny better than you do. John O’Donohue
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It may feel backward, but prioritizing yourself now saves you much time later. Unknown
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I also learned what many other wives and I were doing wrong. We were neglecting ourselves. We were born women yet were taking care of our roles as moms, employees, or wives before we took care of ourselves. But to adequately fulfill those roles, we must put ourselves first. Elona Washington
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Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort. Deborah Day Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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You don’t have to stop looking after yourself just to help the world. In fact, sometimes it’s better for the world if you put yourself first. That’s not being selfish. In fact, looking after yourself is the greatest act of kindness you can give the world. Loving yourself first is the best way to spread love. Holly Bourne
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It is important to take time for yourself and find clarity. The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself. Diane Von Furstenberg
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You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage pleasantly, smilingly, and unapologetically to say NO to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger YES burning inside. Stephen Covey
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Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. M. Scott Peck
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It’s not weak to stand by the person you love when they’re trying to fix a big mistake, and it’s not weak to decide to put yourself first. Sylvia Day Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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When you shift your attention to yourself, there are countless opportunities to explore. Nitin Namdeo
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When you can’t find your purpose in a day, make it to look after yourself. Dodie Clark Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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To prioritize yourself, you first need to believe that you are worthy of being a priority. Unknown
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It’s always ‘until,’ my dear. Until you value yourself. Until you find someone who values you. Until you stop letting your past dictate your future. Melanie A. Smith
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It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make happiness a priority. It’s necessary. Mandy Hale
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An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly. Unknown
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A healthy self-love means we have no compulsion to justify to ourselves or others why we take vacations, why we sleep late, why we buy new shoes, why we spoil ourselves from time to time. We feel comfortable doing things which add quality and beauty to life. Andrew Matthews
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Self care is giving the world what’s best of you, instead of what’s left of you. Katie Reed
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Always choose yourself first. Women are very socialized to choose other people. If you put yourself first, it’s this incredible path you can forge for yourself. Rebecca Traister
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If you feel the need to make others happy at the expense or your own self-worth, you are denying your reality and your identity. David Stafford
Know what matters most to you and be unwilling to compromise those priorities at almost any price. Frank Sonnenberg
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When you discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, cares enough about yourself to make room for it in your life. Jean Shinoda Bolen
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I found in my research that the biggest reason people aren’t more self-compassionate is that they are afraid they’ll become self-indulgent. They believe self-criticism is what keeps them in line. Most people have gotten it wrong because our culture says being hard on yourself is the way to be. Kristen Neff
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In my deepening understanding of myself, I find my capacity to serve others is also deepened. The better I am at self-care, the more genuinely nurturing of others I am able to be. Mary Anne Radmacher
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If you want to have enough to give to others, you will need to take care of yourself first. A tree that refuses water and sunlight for itself can’t bear fruit for others. Emily Maroutian
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It’s not selfish, but selfless to be first, to be as good as possible to you, to take care of you, to keep you whole and healthy. That doesn’t mean you disregard everything and everyone, but you have to keep your cup full. Iyanla Vanzant
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Our lives are so busy, and for many of us, the demands are overwhelming. Some of us focus so much on the needs of others that we lose sight of ourselves. Stop for one moment. Take a deep breath. Be still. Refocus. Concentrate on improving your life. One situation at a time. You can’t be much good to others if you’re no good to yourself. If they love you, they’ll understand. Carlos Wallace
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Your inner critic is simply a part of you that needs more self-love. Amy Leigh Mercree
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It is only when we feel deprived that we resent giving to others. Self-care does not mean you stop caring about others; it just means you start caring more about yourself. Start thinking about yourself more and others less. Since you have a choice between taking care of someone else or giving to yourself, try choosing yourself sometimes. Beverly Engel
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You have to validate yourself first, and then you will receive the much-deserved healing validation from the rest of the world. A.D. Posey
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Carve out, claim the time to care for yourself, and kindle your own fire. Amy Ippoliti
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When you make a mistake, respond to yourself in a loving way rather than a self-shaming way. Ellie Holcomb
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People pleasing and putting others first literally diminished my mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. Overwhelmingly, most emotionally wounded people demonstrate this trait. Many of us have been programmed to put others first, to be of service to others before we serve ourselves. Christopher Dines
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Self-care helps prevent many mental and physical health problems that will take away your time later on if you ignore them. Unknown
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When you find the road within yourself, the right one will open. Dejan Stojanovic
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By taking care of myself, I have so much more to offer the world than I do when I am running on empty. Ali Washington Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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The scarcity of self-value cannot be remedied by money, recognition, affection, attention, or influence. Gary Zukav
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It may seem backward, but taking time off for yourself can sometimes be exactly what you need to keep you productive, energetic, and inspired. Unknown
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Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world. Lucille Ball
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With every act of self-care, your authentic self gets stronger, and the fearful, critical mind gets weaker. Every act of self-care is a powerful declaration: I am on my side. I am on my side. Each day, I am more and more on my own side. Susan Weiss Berry
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My happiness matters. My joy is important. My love is valuable. My worthiness is relevant. It’s not anyone else’s job to see that but mine. Alex Elle Prioritize Yourself Quotes
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There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self. Aldous Huxley
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Self-love is an ocean and your heart is a vessel. Make it full, and any excess will spill over into the lives of the people you hold dear. But you must come first. Self-trust is the first secret to success. Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Instead of saying, ‘I don’t have time,’ try saying, ‘it’s not a priority,’ and see how that feels. Laura Vanderkam
Summary
If making yourself a priority seems selfish or something you don’t have time for, then please consider Stephen Covey’s P/PC balance from his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” In the book Covey asserts that for us to live our best lives, we have to find time in our lives to balance production (P) and production capability (PC).
Part of spending time maintaining our production capability is what we call self care. It won’t get done unless you make it a priority. And, as Covey teaches us, unless we maintain the P/PC balance, we cannot be as effective to be able to help anyone who is counting on us.
If we concentrate on either area too much, the other suffers. That is to say, if we work too much on being productive and not enough on maintaining our ability to produce, our long term ability to produce (and help others) will suffer at some point. So, prioritizing ourselves helps us to be able to prioritize others for a longer period of time.
The ways that we can prioritize ourselves are well documented. If you do feel that you would still like to include others as you make yourself a priority, here are some ideas on ways to do that. Take these ideas and use them as inspiration to find more that work for you.
The four areas of our being that each of us need to sharpen are: (along with some ideas for sharpening each area)
Physical–taking care of our body• Exercise and do physical activities together. • Clarify or reclarify expectations and goals around financial and physical assets. • Do family work together.
Emotional—taking care of our ability to connect with others• Love and affirm one another. • Laugh at inside jokes and relax together. • Build relationships of trust and unconditional love.
Mental—Mind• Learn new things together. • Share and discuss ideas. • Develop talents. • Write/keep a journal.
Spiritual—Spirit• Renew commitments. • Clarify directions and goals. • Read inspirational literature together.