When all the passengers are buckled up and before the airplane heads for the runway, flight attendants around the world give a little talk about safety. One common sentence is repeated on every aircraft, “In the unlikely event of loss of cabin pressure a yellow bag will drop from above and oxygen will flow freely.”
The oxygen is needed at altitude because without adequate oxygen, we will pass out. The attendant’s next statement goes something like this, “Place the mask on yourself first before helping those around you.” They say this for good reason. If you try to help others while not securing the mask on yourself first, YOU will be part of the problem.
It’s obvious why this is important on an aircraft. But, why the mental disconnect back on solid ground? I see time and time again, people giving, serving and wearing themselves out for others while neglecting themselves.
It appears to be most common with women, and moms in particular. They give, give, give and give some more until they have nothing more to give. Then to make matters worse, they feel guilty if they do anything for themselves like read a book, take a break or heaven forbid, get their nails done!
“Real life” is no different than the oxygen mask on an airplane. If you are suffocating, running yourself ragged and depleting your resources of time, energy and money to “help others,” you are becoming part of the problem. You cannot give what you do not have, so take very good care of yourself, FIRST.
This is not selfish, or greedy. You becoming as strong as you can, physically, mentally, spiritually, financially and relationally, put you in a better position to help those around you. Take care of yourself FIRST. Then, help others.
I am reminded of Moses, whose father in law saw what he was doing to himself when he tried to “do it all.” “Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.[1]”
By not taking care of yourself first, you will not only wear yourself out, but you will wear out others as well. I’m sure we can all remember a time when we were stressed out, broke, hungry, lonely, angry or tired and then ‘snapped’ at someone we loved. That’s what happens when you don’t take care of yourself FIRST.
The best thing you can do for others is to become as strong, as healthy, as financially secure, as wise and mentally sound that you can. Do it for yourself so you can do it for others too.
[1] Exodus 18:17–18
