About this quote

Giving too much of yourself to another person can leave you depleted and unsure who you are anymore. Pay attention to the tiny things you stopped doing and the wishes you shelved. Try one small act that belongs only to you this week and see how it shifts your energy. Tell one trusted friend what you need and set one clear boundary so you stop shrinking to fit someone else's life.

When to use it

• After two years of caring full time for my partner, I remembered this line and finally told them I needed one night a week to myself—no explanations.
• When I skipped auditions and declined a promotion because my boyfriend didn’t want me traveling, I thought of this quote and started making plans again for my career.
• My sister used it after paying off her friend's rent for months; she said, 'I lost track of my savings and my own goals,' and began a budget that protected her money and her time.
• A college teammate who always put training on hold to help his girlfriend with her schedule read it and signed up for a solo weekend camp to reclaim his training routine.