It’s a beautiful thing to be someone who wants to help. To be the person others turn to when life feels heavy. To offer a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on, or words of comfort when someone else is struggling. But in the process of carrying the weight of others, it’s dangerously easy to forget one crucial thing:

You matter, too.

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in trying to hold others up that you stop noticing how low you're sinking. You become the rock, the therapist, the “strong one”—and you forget to check in with the person behind all that strength: you.

Helping others through their dark days can take a toll on your own light. Empathy is powerful, but it’s also draining. You absorb more than you realize. Their pain can become your burden, and if you don’t stop to breathe, to reset, to feel your own feelings—you’ll burn out. Or worse, break.

You cannot pour from an empty cup. That phrase is cliché for a reason—it’s true. You can't give the best version of yourself to others if you're constantly running on fumes. Prioritizing your mental health isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. It’s what allows you to keep showing up, with love, with patience, and with energy that’s real.

So take that walk alone. Say no sometimes. Talk to your own support system. Journal. Sleep. Go to therapy if you need to. Cry when you have to. Laugh just for you. Refill your cup.

You’re not weak for needing care. You’re human. And even healers need healing.

Remember: saving others isn’t your job—it’s a choice. But saving yourself? That’s your responsibility.