You have been taking care of everything and everyone for many months now. And you may be even stressed out and worn out by all your caretaking and rescuing. And, sometimes, when you are feeling stressed and running around taking care of everybody else, the healthiest thing you can do is to stop and consider how you can take care of yourself. While this may seem obvious to some people, many of us struggle with the idea of putting ourselves first. We were raised to think we should always put others before ourselves and ignore our own needs—that it is somehow arrogant or self-centered, and not a nice thing to do. Or perhaps you have the need to rescue and to make everybody else's life better, of course at your own expense. Today it is time to put yourself and your own needs first without guilt or regret. You may have been so busy caring for others that you may not even know what your own needs or want are right now. Today, create some time for you to tune inward and begin to explore what you need right now. Listen to your inner voice to find out what makes you content, what makes you feel at peace or perhaps lights you up. Sometimes we can’t even hear our own inner voice because we are so busy anticipating the needs of those we care about, so you might have to listen carefully at first. Today make YOU your priority and realize that as you do so, everyone in your life will benefit. Today, be there for others but do not leave yourself behind.

Just for today, nurturing myself is a joyous experience. I am worth the time I spend healing myself. I am worthy of all that is good in this life and I now lovingly allow myself to accept it. I cannot change other people. They must do their own work and they will do it when they are ready. My self esteem is high because I honor who I am. I am safe and everything is working out for my highest good. And so it is.