You Can’t Please Everyone, So You’ve Got To Please Yourself

This post is a response to the “7 Things” meme sent my way by Maggy at Red Ted Art. Maggy is a talented artist who creates custom art for children. Thank you Maggy, I appreciate it and I’m delighted you tagged me.

This is normally the part where I’d list seven things about myself… but I’m not going to do that for reasons I hope will become clear.

I read a post written by Sean Platt, the talented ghostwriter, published on Copyblogger last week.

His post was about ‘writing for your most important client – yourself‘. It spoke to me because I don’t do it. My own style of writing is aimed at pleasing the majority and as such isn’t always a true reflection of myself. It’s not necessarily a bad thing but it does leave me feeling a little trapped and it stunts my creativity. Anyway, that’s a side issue.

I extended the thought of writing for myself and linked it to being selfish. Which I then linked to happiness.

Sometimes you do have to please yourself. Contriving to make everyone around you happy at the expense of your own happiness will only serve to make you unhappy. If you’re unhappy you unwittingly pass that on to others. If you continue down that route your capacity to make other people happy is greatly diminished. It’s a vicious circle kind of thing.

So today, instead of adhering to the ’7 things meme’ I’ve cut to the chase and broken the meme down to its true purpose – linking out.

Yes, I could reveal seven things about myself but frankly that’s a little tedious for you and for me. In truth does anyone really care? No! And I’m not bitter about that but frankly you couldn’t care less that I love muesli but it doesn’t love me. Could you? Honestly? Didn’t think so – and that’s OK becasue I don’t care about the fungus infection between your toes.

Of course, putting yourself first doesn’t have to mean being totally selfish or making other people unhappy. Putting yourself first doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk… that’s optional.

It is possible to put yourself first while remaining considerate and thoughtful to the needs of others and that’s what I’ve tried to do here.

Indeed, there’s a refreshing and liberating feeling of honesty that goes with it putting yourself first. I like it.

I feel happier for putting myself first today and that happiness will doubtless carry through and be passed on to those around me.

Enjoy your day!

Selfish

Picture: Mishimoto