Serving Ourselves

Posted on June 11, 2007
Filed Under Embrace Your Highest Path and Purpose, Releasing Limiting Beliefs, Spiritual Development |

Being “self-serving” has some fairly negative connotations. We equate putting ourselves first with being selfish, or disregarding the needs of others. There is no doubt in my mind that most readers of this blog have an intense commitment to serving others, and to serving Spirit. So why has serving ourselves become so disregarded?

Who are we, to hold ourselves as less deserving than our neighbor? Are we not also Divinely created? Aren’t we serving Spirit by nurturing the most Divine part of ourselves into its fullest expression here in the physical? In my opinion, this is our first priority. We simply cannot truly know the needs and desires of any other Being on this planet. We can, however, tune in to the most authentic expression of our Divine Self.

I’ll go even further here. When we serve others without first serving ourselves, we project our needs onto those around us. We assume that our lack is theirs, also. So often, our attempts to heal and assist others are really a quest to heal and assist ourselves. Only when we come from a place of fulfillment can we shift our perspective to appreciate another’s perceived reality.

Serving ourselves is more daunting than serving others. We have the opportunity to create a reality that truly serves us. This does mean leaving behind many of the limitations we have previously created for ourselves. It’s easier to look at the limitations others have created in their own reality, rather than bear witness to our own.

Can you serve yourself expansively, unconditionally, and embrace the fullness of your Divinely created Being? How much would you have to offer others from this position of fulfillment?

Blessings,
Andrea

Comments

6 Responses to “Serving Ourselves”

Engineer Your Own Happiness: Carnival of Positivity No. 3 « Lemonade Stand on July 10th, 2007 8:26 am

[...] Andrea Hess presents Serving Ourselves posted at Living Intuition, puts self-serving activities in a new light, saying, “It’s okay to put ourselves first.” Powerful questions to ask yourself. [...]
my 1983 : Engineer Your Own Happiness: Carnival of Positivity No. 3 on August 5th, 2007 3:08 am

[...] Andrea Hess presents Serving Ourselves posted at Living Intuition, puts self-serving activities in a new light, saying, “It’s okay to put ourselves first.” Powerful questions to ask yourself. [...]
Tuck, The Rebel Belle on September 21st, 2007 11:51 am

Hi Andrea, love your post, and love putting myself first!
Thanks for the reminder of who I am. You rock…..you’ve inspired me…I’m going off to love myself a li’l more.
Andrea on September 21st, 2007 12:49 pm

Thank you so much for the comment, Tuck! I really appreciate it. I’m going to put theory into practice tonight, let my husband take care of the baby, and take myself off to a nice massage. Aaaaah, serving ourselves is good ….

Blessings,
Andrea
Jan Reeves on October 2nd, 2007 9:48 am

Hi Andrea,Ive been reading from your website and I am in a serving position in my proffesion,I am a nurse and have been 25 years.I feel burned out,I work 12 to 16 hours a day serving people with a smile no matter what and I find when I come home and have my off time I have nothing left to give to my family,I dont even want to talk to anyone.I feel I need to leave the nursing field but cannot make the money I make doing other things or Ive not foun anything yet.I am single and have to work but my areer is draining me unbelievably.At one time I loved nursing but it has become a very sore spot in my life.Ive discussed this with my family and they do not understand,I get negative feedback,but I feel they do not truely understand.I am at my whits end here.The profession has become unbelievably stressful for most people I now and nursing shorteges are unbelieveable.Ive enjoyed readng your blog and any feedback would be so appreciated. Thanks your site is wonderful and refreshing.
Andrea on October 4th, 2007 3:55 pm

Hi Jan,

Thanks so much for your comment. It can be very difficult in helping and healing professions to maintain energetic boundaries. You are of course working a very long day, but it sounds like your fatigue goes beyond that.

A couple of things you can do: Allow yourself to receive back from your patients! You can allow yourself to receive their appreciation, their gratitude, which I’m sure they offer. Maybe not every patient, but I’m sure most recognize how much you serve them. Allow yourself to receive and be nurtured by their energy.

After your shift and before you go home, take a moment. Tap into your own divine Source, your Spirit Guides, the Universe, whatever terminology you use. Let yourself be filled by that energy. The Divine is infinite and infinitely available. It is up to you to allow yourself to receive from Divine Source.

Finally - we teach others how to treat us. How our family or friends treat us is always our issue - and that is how we must address it. Put yourself first, and do what you must do for yourself. Your family will not be used to that and will object at first … not your issue! Your health and your well-being are your responsibility!

Blessings to you,
Andrea