Whenever you fly on an airplane, there’s always the pre-flight set of safety instructions that most seasoned travelers have memorized and stopped paying attention to.

In the event of an emergency…

Your seat bottom can be used as a flotation device.

Be sure to secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others.

That’s the one I want to talk about today. You can’t help someone with their oxygen mask if you aren’t wearing yours. That’s because you’d be passed out on the floor, no good to anyone.

Life is the same way – like a long flight. It’s mostly smooth, but there are those moments of turbulence. And much like airplanes, people are designed to withstand the rough spots. And if things get really bad, we’ve got our oxygen masks. The thing is, what looks like selfishness – helping yourself first – is actually quite selfless.

I think women especially, struggle with this concept. We’re moms and nurturers; we’re the caregivers. We often put our family’s needs before our own. That’s really great and noble and all, but what happens when we have nothing left to give? We’re no good to anyone.

What I’m getting at is this: be sure you’re taking care of yourself. Not if there’s time, or after you’ve taken care of everyone else. Take care of yourself first. If your own batteries are charged – if the oxygen in your own mask is flowing – you’ll have the stamina, energy, and compassion to better help and serve those around you.

So go for a walk. Read a good book. Meditate. Get away every now and then. It’s amazing how much easier it is to care for someone else when you first honor and value yourself.

Taking care of yourself first doesn’t mean you’re selfish. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.