I may have learned to take care of the person others expected me to be, without learning how to care for the person I really am.

Perhaps I’ve become very good at working, meeting responsibilities, and taking care of other people. I may even be doing work I love.

But have I thought about the life I would truly love to live—not just what I want to accomplish, but what I’d love my everyday life to be like?

What would make my days more enjoyable, interesting, beautiful, peaceful, playful, or fulfilling? What kinds of friendships, relationships, adventures, and everyday pleasures would I love to have?

Where would I love to live—in a city, a small town, or the countryside? What kind of home and surroundings would make me happy?

What about the everyday ways I care for myself? Do I take time to rest, eat well, move my body, enjoy my appearance, and make my surroundings pleasant?

Can I enjoy caring for my body, my appearance, and my well-being simply because it feels good to care for myself—not because I need to impress someone, attract someone, or gain their approval?

Perhaps I’ve become so accustomed to giving my time, attention, and energy to others that I’ve forgotten something important.

I need care, too.

I don’t have to earn that care by being useful, successful, attractive, or generous. And I don’t have to give myself away to prove that I’m a good person.

What if I began caring for myself simply because I love being alive—and because my life is worthy of my care?

What would my days be like if I weren’t always rushing to get things done? Could I make life easier and more enjoyable by asking for help, sharing responsibilities, or doing some things differently?

What if caring for myself became one of the pleasures of being alive, rather than another obligation?

Have I decided that something I deeply want isn’t possible before I’ve really explored the possibilities?

Perhaps I dream of falling in love, attracting a life partner, having children—or having more children—raising a family, or spending more time with the people I love. Perhaps I long for travel, new experiences, creative adventures, or simply more freedom to enjoy everyday life.

Maybe I love being around children. I might dream of becoming a mother or father, or welcoming another child into my family. I might love the idea of watching children grow, helping them discover the world, sharing in their adventures, and guiding them as they become themselves.

Or perhaps I would love to spend more time with children already in my life.

Have I quietly set aside any of these dreams because of money, responsibilities, my career, worries about the future, or what other people might think?

New:

What possibilities have I ruled out without really exploring them?

Perhaps I’ve decided that something I might love would be too difficult, too risky, too expensive, or too much responsibility. Perhaps I’ve been so focused on what could go wrong that I haven’t considered what might go wonderfully right.

What experiences, relationships, or ways of living might bring more love and meaning into my life than I’ve imagined?

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What if I gave myself permission to explore what I truly want, rather than assuming it isn’t possible?

Perhaps there are things I’ve stopped wishing for—or never imagined I could have.

What about the things I love watching, reading about, listening to, or collecting? Is there something I’ve admired in others that I’ve secretly wished I could try myself?

Have I thought I wasn’t talented enough, smart enough, or good enough? Have I been waiting for someone to invite me? Or have I been too busy taking care of everyone else?

What if one of these interests is a clue to something I might love to explore, practice, or develop?

And what if, as I follow that interest, I discover abilities, friendships, and opportunities I couldn’t have imagined?

Perhaps something I love doing could one day become part of a purpose I haven’t yet discovered. Perhaps it could even become something other people have been hoping someone would bring into the world.

What if these interests aren’t distractions from my real life—but clues to the life I might love to create?

And what if I began giving my own life the same attention, imagination, and care I’ve given to my responsibilities and to others?

Not because I need to become more acceptable or attractive to anyone else.

But because this is my life, and I’m worth caring for.