There’s something about motherhood that rewires you. The moment you hold your child for the first time, a quiet shift happens—you stop being the center of your own world. Your needs become secondary. Your wants take a backseat. And somewhere in between the late-night feedings, the scraped knees, the bedtime stories, and the endless to-do lists, you forget that you, too, deserve care.

You, too, deserve joy.

It’s easy to put yourself last. It’s almost instinctive. You pour your energy into making sure everyone else is okay, often without pausing to ask if you are. You take care of their meals before your own, make sure they have time for hobbies while yours collect dust, encourage them to chase their dreams while yours sit on a shelf, waiting for a “someday” that never quite comes.

But what if you gave yourself permission to go after the things that make you happy?

What if you decided that your needs are just as important as everyone else’s?

The Beauty of Doing Something for Yourself

For me, running a business is one of those things. It’s something I do just for me—a space where I can pour my creativity, my ambition, and my passion into something that is mine. I get to build something that makes me feel accomplished, something that challenges me, something that reminds me I’m not just a mother, but a whole person with dreams, ideas, and goals outside of motherhood. Someone that my kids get to watch every day.

I get to move at my own pace. I get to decide how it fits into my life, not the other way around. And even though I still struggle with guilt from time to time—because, let’s be honest, the guilt never fully disappears—I’ve come to realize that honoring my own happiness makes me a better mom, a better wife, a better version of myself.

This year, I’ve been working on another thing just for me—working out consistently. And while yes, it’s about getting stronger and feeling healthier, it’s also about something deeper. It’s about making the conscious choice to take an hour or two for myself. It’s about proving to myself that I deserve to be a priority in my own life. It’s about reminding myself that I am worthy of the same energy, effort, and love that I pour into everyone else.

And I know I’m not alone in this.

The Guilt That Holds Us Back

Moms struggle with this. We know that taking time for ourselves—whether it’s exercising, reading, painting, or simply sitting in silence—makes us happier, more present, more patient.

We know that when we feel good, we show up better for our families.

And yet, the guilt still creeps in.

It whispers that we’re selfish for wanting time away. It tells us we should be doing something “more productive.” It convinces us that everyone else’s needs should always come first.

But here’s the thing: when we constantly ignore our own needs, we burn out. We become exhausted, resentful, and stretched too thin. And the very people we love the most end up feeling the weight of that.

The irony? Taking time for ourselves isn’t selfish—it’s one of the most selfless things we can do. When we take care of ourselves, we’re able to show up fully. With more joy. More patience. More love. Our kids don’t just need a mother who is present—they need a mother who is fulfilled.

You Deserve This, Too

So this is your reminder: You deserve to go after what makes you happy. You deserve to carve out time for the things that light you up. You deserve to invest in yourself, to dream boldly, to make space for what brings you joy.

It doesn’t have to be big. It doesn’t have to be grand. It just has to be yours.

Maybe it’s a business. Maybe it’s a new hobby. Maybe it’s making space in your day for movement, or creativity, or a quiet cup of coffee before the world wakes up. Whatever it is—let yourself have it. And let go of the guilt that tries to tell you that you don’t deserve it.

Because you do. You always have.