If you’ve ever flown on an airplane, you are likely familiar with the pre-flight safety demonstration that is always given. And although most people tune out once it begins, there is a line in it that I’d like to call your attention to. In the part that deals with the use of the oxygen masks, you’ll usually hear something like this: “If cabin pressure should change, panels above your seat will open revealing oxygen masks… reach up and pull a mask towards you. Place it over your nose and mouth, and secure with the elastic band... Secure your own mask first before helping others.”
Notice that passengers are instructed to secure their own mask first before doing anything else. Why? Well, if they failed to do so, they themselves could run low on air, and would soon lose their capacity to be of any help to those around them. But if they first make sure they have sufficient oxygen, not only will they be OK, but they will be able to be of ongoing help to those who might be having trouble.
The same thing is true of our lives in a broader sense. We may have a deep drive to serve others — and that’s a good and honorable desire. But in order to do so effectively, we also need to make sure that we’re taking care of ourselves too. For instance, are we physically, emotionally, and spiritually in a healthy place? Or are we running on fumes? Because if we ourselves are running on empty, we run the risk of burning out and being of no help to anyone.
Making sure we’re taking care of ourselves is not an act of selfishness in itself. Rather, the more healthy and stable we are, the more capacity we have to be of service to others. This doesn’t mean we have to have it all together before we serve. But it does mean that it’s crucial to pay attention to the state of our own lives, understanding that our own health enables us to better serve others — not just today, but also in the long run.