Self-Love in Action: Why Taking Care of You Changes Everything

There was a time when I would go an entire day without drinking water or eating. I’d get so hyper-focused on tasks that I’d forget the basics—things that should have been non-negotiable. Rest? Breaks? Taking a moment to breathe? Those things never made my to-do list. I was too busy trying to accomplish, trying to be everything for everyone else.

But I’ve learned that when you constantly prioritize others over yourself, you lose pieces of who you are.

Now, I make it a point to take care of myself. I set timers, take breaks, and actually sit down for meals. I schedule time to rest, and I no longer feel guilty for doing so. Choosing me has made me a better mother, a better wife, a better student, a better friend, and an overall better person. The way I see it, self-love isn’t just about treating yourself every once in a while—it’s about respecting your own limits and valuing yourself enough to honor them.

Breaking Free from People-Pleasing

For a long time, I struggled with setting boundaries. I wasn’t just a people-pleaser—I lived for external validation. I prioritized making others happy over my own happiness. I pushed myself to meet expectations that weren’t even my own. Whether it was accomplishing something, winning a world title, or gifting someone something expensive/fancy, I often did it not because it fulfilled me, but because I thought it would impress someone else.

And what did that get me? Exhaustion. Burnout. A lingering sense of never feeling like I was enough, oftentimes overlooking my own self-respect.

But I finally asked myself: What if I started living for me?

That question changed everything.

Choosing Myself Without Guilt

Now, I don’t live to impress anyone but me. I set boundaries that protect my peace. I do what makes me happy. And the best part? I don’t feel selfish for it. In fact, I feel more fulfilled than ever. This is growth. This is healthy. This is living.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, under-accomplished, or like no matter what you do, it’s never enough—I want you to take a step back and ask yourself:

Who are you doing it for?

If the answer isn’t you, it might be time for a shift.

When you start focusing on what you want instead of what others expect, everything begins to align. The right people will stay. The wrong ones—the ones who only benefited from you overextending yourself—will leave. And that’s okay. They’ll go find someone else to drain.

Happiness attracts happiness. Good energy attracts good energy. The people meant for you will return in abundance, and life will feel lighter. I only wish I had realized this sooner, before I spent so much time trying to be everything for everyone except myself.

But I know it now. And that’s what matters.

With love, growth, and good energy—Kaliesha