We are always told to be authentic. To speak our mind. To just stop worrying about what other people think. To show up as the person we really are. It sounds simple until you are standing in front of someone you have never met before. How much should you say? How much should you reveal? What if they judge you? What if they misunderstand you? What if you show them something real and they use it against you? These questions can make self expression feel much more complicated th

In the back of our minds there is a question that can feel almost selfish just for asking it. Is it okay to love myself more than I love other people? For some people, the immediate answer will be no. We are taught to love our family. To care for our friends. To put our children first. To be there for the people we love. To make sacrifices. To give. To forgive. To put other people before ourselves. There is something beautiful about caring deeply for other people. But what ha