đź’ The Forgotten Decisions That Shape Your Life
Oct 13, 2025
Have you ever stopped to think about the decisions you made long ago — the ones you don’t even remember making — that still guide your every move today?
For many nurses, one of those forgotten decisions is this:
“It’s important to put others’ needs before my own.”
Maybe you made that decision as a child — watching someone you love struggle and deciding you’d be the helper.
Maybe it happened in nursing school — when you were praised for skipping lunch or staying late.
Or maybe it was reinforced over and over again at work — every time you prioritized patients, families, and coworkers before yourself.
These moments may have seemed small, but together they created a powerful rule that runs quietly in the background of your life.
A rule that says: You don’t matter as much.
How that forgotten decision shows up now
That one early choice might be shaping:
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Your stress levels — because rest feels like a luxury, not a right.
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Your peace of mind — because you’re constantly torn between doing what’s right for others and what’s sustainable for you.
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Your relationships — because giving too much has left you with little left to give yourself.
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Your career satisfaction — because even though you’re dependable and competent, you sometimes feel invisible or resentful.
It’s no wonder so many nurses feel depleted. They’re living by a rule they never consciously chose.
The power to choose again
Here’s the thing:
You can’t change the past — but you can change the decision.
What if you made a new one?
One that sounds more like:
“Caring for myself allows me to care for others at my best.”
“My needs matter too.”
“I can be compassionate without sacrificing myself.”
A single new decision can shift your energy from depletion to empowerment.
From frustration to fulfillment.
From surviving to leading.
A moment of reflection
Take a quiet minute today and ask yourself:
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When did I decide it was important to put others before myself?
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How is that decision affecting my peace, joy, and wellbeing?
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If I could make a different decision — one that supports the life I want — what would it be?
You might be surprised by what you discover.
🌟 Ready to explore this more deeply?
Watch my free on-demand masterclass, “Stop Waiting, Start Leading,” where I’ll help you uncover the hidden rules and forgotten decisions that keep you stuck — and show you how to create new ones that lead to freedom, confidence, and balance.
