Why Being Selfish Can Actually Be Really Good For Your Mental Health
If there was ever a time to be “selfish,” it would be right about now. Michelle Elman, author of “The Joy Of Being Selfish” says the word gets a bad rap but really what it comes down to is you putting your own needs first. When you try to put everyone else’s before yours what you ultimately end up doing is not leaving any time for yourself. As Elman says, “the cost of being selfless is your own self-care.”
Now, this isn’t a call for you to cancel every Zoom call you have with family and friends for the foreseeable future so you can really concentrate on your me-time. It’s simply a plea to normalize looking out for your own health and wellbeing. Elman says being selfish in a positive way also means putting up boundaries. Here are a few to get you started on your new self-absorbed path:
- Start saying no. Turn down more things. According to Elman, it’s going to feel “awkward and weird” at first but it’s an important first step. Elman also says you should “never give a reason why you are saying no.” Excuses only give people an opportunity to criticize you. Just say no and leave it at that.
- Believe you have a right to be treated better. You deserve to feel great. Don’t let your fear of being disliked get in the way. Elman explains that setting this boundary “will be messy and confusing [but] to believe your time is worth something more, all comes down to self-respect.”
Check out more tips on how to be more selfish HERE.
Source: Metro
