If you’ve spent your whole life doing what you “should” do instead of what you want to do, listening to yourself can seem like an odd concept. After all, weren’t you taught from a young age to always put others before yourself, to shove your emotions aside, and do what’s expected of you? Wouldn’t listening to yourself violate this rule?

The truth is, learning to listen to yourself is one of the most selfless things you can do. It leads to you making decisions that align with the life you actually want to live. It allows you to show up in bigger, better, and happier ways for the people in your life.