You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow

Funny, isn’t it? How so many of us have become masters at forgetting ourselves. We bend, twist, and reshape who we are to accommodate everyone else—our spouses, children, jobs, and even societal expectations. Spouses lose themselves in the shadows of their partners, adopting roles but forgetting the essence of who they are. Parents, in their devotion, become “Mom” and “Dad,” but where did Richard and Jane go? Their names, their identities—erased, as if the moment their children were born, they ceased to exist as individuals. And then there's the 35-year-old child, forever living to make their parents happy, sacrificing their own happiness, dreams, and desires just to keep the family legacy intact. Or the employee working 55 hours a week at a job that doesn’t align with their passions, constantly praying for that elusive career that never materializes.

We do it out of love, right? But is that really love? When you strip away your essence, are you truly loving anyone, least of all yourself?

You have to be honest with yourself—completely, unapologetically honest. To love yourself is not selfish; it’s necessary. Because when you love yourself, truly love yourself, you set an example for others to love themselves too. Parents should love their children, but not at the expense of losing themselves in the process. If you’ve lost your identity, you’ve placed an impossible burden on your children. They shouldn’t feel like they owe you their happiness just because you sacrificed yours. That’s too heavy. Let them fly, let them breathe, let them be who they’re meant to be.

You see, no job, no friendship, no relationship is worth the sacrifice of your soul. No one should ask you to dim your light to make them shine brighter. If they do, that’s not love—that’s control. And not all money is good money. Sometimes the price you pay for that paycheck is far too high if it comes at the expense of your spirit. You deserve to live authentically, fiercely, and with a sense of purpose that’s aligned with who you are—not what others expect of you.

So let’s commit, right here, right now, to loving ourselves in a way that empowers us. When we set boundaries, it’s not an invitation for opposition. It’s a declaration: I am recharging. I am refueling. I am taking care of me so that I can give more freely to the world without losing myself in the process. It’s not about being selfish; it’s about being whole.

When you commit to loving yourself, you show others that your dedication to self-care does not diminish your commitment to loving them. It actually strengthens it. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and you cannot give what you do not have. Love yourself enough to stand tall, to be fierce, to reclaim who you are, unapologetically. And watch how the world around you begins to shift when they see the power that comes from within you.

Remember this: the most important person in your life is you. And if you’re not there for yourself, how can you ever be there for anyone else?

So, how do you regain that inner love without making others feel irrelevant? You start by recognizing that loving yourself is not a threat to anyone—it’s a gift. When you honor your own spirit, you give others permission to do the same. You teach them that self-respect, self-love, and boundaries aren’t walls; they’re bridges to deeper connections, healthier relationships, and a more fulfilled life.

Let’s commit to that, shall we? Let’s choose to love ourselves so fiercely that others feel inspired to do the same. And in doing so, we create a world where love is abundant, and no one has to lose themselves to accommodate another.

Thanks for reading,

William Rochelle, but you can call me Bill

#williamrochelle #SelfLove #Boundaries #AuthenticLiving #PersonalIdentity #Empowerment #FierceLove #Inspiration #SelfCare #InnerStrength