Success in relationships starts and ends with you

 Throughout our lifetime we will have multitudes of relationships both personal and professional. Some will endure and some will fade over time. The one constant relationship, and the one that is most overlooked, is the relationship we have with ourselves. 

We often hear about how selfless someone is, or how giving but fail to see the toll this can cause in their own wellbeing. It is important to look after and nurture yourself, to fulfill your needs first. I always think of the pre-flight talks given by the flight staff on safety, make sure you put your oxygen mask on first before helping others with theirs. Sounds simple right? They need to add that line in because, in most cases, is would be natural to help others first in a crisis. If you think about it though, how could you be of any help if you were unconscious from lack of oxygen? See, sounds obvious in that situation, but it needs to carry over into ordinary life. 

I know for myself this is a constant struggle. I am always the voice of reason or shoulder to cry on, I do so willingly, however there are times that this becomes difficult as I have no reserves to draw from. This can then snowball into my becoming neglectful about important aspects of my life, food being paramount. When I am depleted emotionally I make bad decisions, take away meals vs. making a healthier meal at home. Snacking at odd hours due to lack of sleep, the list goes on. To combat this I am learning to set boundaries, recognizing the cues my body gives when it needs to take a step back. 

It is not a switch that I can switch on and off, it takes constant thought on my part to stay on track but I am a better supporter in my circle of relationships because of it.

As the saying goes "You can't pour from an empty cup"