You Can’t Be Everything To Everyone

By: Emily - Mindful Career Journey

You can't be everything to everyone.

I’ve learned this the hard way.

For years, I prided myself on being the go-to person.  The responsible and dependable one.  The one who said yes……no matter what.  I wanted to support my team, my leaders, my peers and didn’t want to let them down…… and still show up fully at home.  I thought if I just worked harder, planned better, and stretched a little further, I could keep everyone happy.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped checking in with myself.

I wasn’t sleeping well.  I was constantly “on.”  I told myself I’d take a break after the next deadline.  Or after the project finished.  Or after the launch.

You know what?  There’s always another “after.”
And when we keep pushing ourselves to be everything to everyone, something eventually gives.

Burnout doesn’t always show up dramatically……in fact, it creeps in slowly.  As irritability,  exhaustion, disconnection, and a sense that no matter how much you do, it’s never enough.

I always heard the saying, but experienced it firsthand that you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Prioritizing your well-being isn’t selfish, it’s a necessity and foundational.
Setting boundaries isn’t letting people down, it’s showing up with intention.

If you’re feeling stretched thin, I see you.  You don’t have to do it all.  You just have to start with you.