By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson
The Birmingham Times
It may be an uncomfortable thought or conversation, but there are times you simply must make you a priority. And I dare say it’s one of the most difficult things for some people to do. So I pose a very serious question: When’s the last time you made you a priority?
I’m talking about really taking stock of your life and determining that it was time to put yourself first by making better life and health choices, clearing out toxic friendships or taking an honest look at where you’d like to be in the next half of your life. Or, we can bring it closer to home.
When’s the last time you’ve taken an honest assessment of where you are right now and when’s the last time that you truly determined to do something about it?
As some of you read this, I can imagine you are cringing as you think about making yourselves a priority. You don’t know what it looks like and it sounds uncomfortable to even hear yourself or someone else say that.
But here’s what I want you to remember: You can’t be a blessing and serve other people when you’re whipped. And you can’t fill other peoples’ cups when your cup is near empty.
Trust me, if you look just around the corner, it is coming and if you aren’t prepared to stand against it, it will not spare.
What is it you ask?
Anxiety, burnout, depression, exhaustion, sickness and/or stress are some of the results of you minimizing the importance of taking care of you. And it’s certainly not an exhaustive list.
These are repercussions, my friends, of an out-of-balance life and it’s not a matter of if they’ll show up in our lives, but simply when. And I’m submitting to you that these are some serious consequences we must all deal with when we are not prioritizing our mental and physical health and well-being.
I can certainly give you some examples of what it looks like when we are making self a priority and in proper alignment, but if you take just a few minutes and think, it’ll be crystal clear what that looks like specifically for you.
Now you certainly don’t have to agree with any of my assertions. You can tell me that you don’t have the time for it right now or you just aren’t in a position to make you first.
And I would still add, whether you’re a wife or husband, mother or father, employee or manager – whatever your role – you deserve to be taken care of first. You deserve to treat you as well as you treat everyone else. In fact, the quality of your life depends on it.
So I’ll pose the question again. If not now, when will you make you a priority? My sincere hope is that it is sooner rather than later.
As always, remember I’m rooting for you.
Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson is a life coach, author and speaker. Her column appears each month online and in The Birmingham Times. You can contact Keisa at keisasharpe@yahoo.com and visit http://www.allsheanaturals.com for natural hair and body products.
