Need A Selfbbatical?
It had to be you
It had to be you
I wandered around, and I finally found
The somebody who
Could make me be true
And could make me be blue
And even be glad
Just to be sad – thinking of you
I’ve heard “the Sinatra serenade” hundreds of times. Frank’s 1980’s song actually isn’t about one love interest which I find fitting. If it was, I would think it should be a song that Frank was singing to himself. Now before you go thinking narcissistic thoughts…
I am bullish on each of us being the right amount of selfish.
Just like “bullish” isn’t going full bull in a China shop, “selfish” isn’t asking you to be fully self-absorbed. It’s caring enough about yourself that you’re self-aware to your needs; not just your bosses, your kids, or your spouse.
A long time ago, I wrote about how the 1996 Romantic Dramedy Jerry Maguire mucked up my generation. It was that one little line — “you complete me”— that did the most damage.
I don’t believe in “you complete me”.
I believe in “me completely me”.
That means, being self-focused on knowing yourself fully so you know what to say yes to and what to pass on. When you don’t have this level of clarity, you could lose yourself along life’s messy maze called reality.
Stop for a second and ask yourself the following questions:
1. What do you think your boss thinks of you?
2. What do you think the client you spend the most time on thinks of you?
3. What do you think your college or high school friends think of you?
You’ve probably thought about these questions before. You have your answers.
Here’s one more question:
What do YOU think of you?
It’s human nature to sometimes care what others think about you.
But I’m honest with myself: I DO care what I think about me.
When you start to care too much about what other people around you think — or think about you — that’s when we often waiver off our own story.
If I’m not taking care of myself I’m no good to anyone else.
Have you been putting the needs of everyone else in your life in front of you? Be “selfish” and put you first.
Need to get a PHD in “You”? Take yourself to the metaphorical YOUniversity and major in yourself.
Need a Selfbbatical? Have the courage to take one.
I’ve talked about the importance of personal values before. End of year is always a good time to run a “values check” on yourself. If you need access to a values assessment, email me here and we’ll send you on your way.
Selfish gets a bad wrap.
SelfISH is not self-absorbed.
Selfish is knowing what you need and knowing when you need it.
