This seems like a contradiction to everything I teach about helping others first in order to help yourself.
But its not. The best example I can give you to fully understand the true meaning of this is the example of a wife and mother. Women in these roles are very focused on being a care-giver. They invest most of their time in taking care of everyone else. They take care of their children. They take care of their husband. They take care of people in the community who need their help. They take care of aging parents. The big question that is often overlooked is “Who takes care of the care-giver?” What happens when the care-giver becomes ill? They are no longer able to take care of anyone else are they?
The most important person the care-giver can take care of is the care-giver!
It is in the best interest of everyone else, that the care-giver take care of self first. This enables the care-giver to be at his or her best at all times and therefore be able to provide the best care possible. Perhaps you have been on an airplane and during the flight attendants presentation of the emergency procedures you remember them saying in the event of a loss of cabin pressure secure YOUR air mask first. This is so that you are now in a position to help someone else. (This excerpt is taken from The Process II)
