Self-centeredness is not a desirable or attractive quality. But never confuse developing self and taking care of self as being the same as self-centeredness. Being self-centered in my eyes, is when everything is about self. It’s narcissistic. My concept for taking care of self is in the light of being better able to make the contribution in life that you are created to make. It’s okay to embrace that we are all uniquely made and that each of us can contribute in our own way to making the world a better place for all. Each little kindness helps the whole. Each act of service also. We have to take the time to ensure that we are able to make these contributions. We have to make certain that we can use our gifts. It’s meant to be.
This is why I am such a proponent of taking care of ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and developmentally. Think about this just in terms of the people you love. How can you make a contribution to them if you don’t take care of you? Jim Rohn once said “I’ll take care of me for you and you take care of you for me.” I love this. It’s so true.
On a bigger scale, I see developing ourselves as a part of our responsibility. This means that we must act on the development. We need to boldly step out and apply ourselves and trust that good things will happen. Too often I see talented people sit in the shadows, afraid to take action in life. Fearing what might happen. Instead of embracing what might happen. One thing I have learned that is an absolute truth: We rarely regret trying to do the thing we feel called to do. But we always regret choosing not to go for it.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”- Nelson Mandela
