A lot of people lose sight of the fact that they’re still important even though they commit to serving others. George Eliot understood this,
“It is good to be helpful and kindly, but don't give yourself to be melted into candle grease for the benefit of the tallow trade.”
What does this mean? Be careful that you take care of yourself even if you’re taking care of the needs of others. It’s easy to devalue yourself, but this is not what service should be about. Giving to others is all about recognizing the greatness in yourself and also seeing that greatness in others.
You can certainly choose to make short-term sacrifices for someone else, but if you go too far it’s possible to melt down. This is becoming more and more common, particularly as people have to care for their elderly parents and their own children, not to mention working full-time.
The bottom line? Regularly appreciate your unique greatness and care for yourself in addition to the other people in your life. This way you’ll be able to keep giving and living a life you love.
