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Daily African Proverbs

You Can’t Give What You Don’t Have

You Can’t Give What You Don’t Have

“Before healing others heal yourself” is a popular African proverb that is used to remind people that they need to take care of themselves before they can take care of others. The saying is believed to originate from the Gambia, but it is popular all over Africa.

The proverb highlights the importance of self-care and how it is necessary to put yourself first before you can help others. This is because if you are not in a good state, physically and mentally, then you will not be able to give your best to others.

The saying is relevant today as many people are so busy taking care of others that they forget to take care of themselves. This can lead to burnout and even health problems.

Here are three insights from this proverb.

You can’t give what you don’t have

There’s a lot of truth to this Gambia Proverb that says, “Before healing others, heal yourself.” You can’t give what you don’t have. If you’re not at peace with yourself, if you’re not happy and whole, you can’t expect to be able to give those things to others. It’s not possible. The best you can hope for is to make someone else feel as crappy as you feel. So, if you want to be able to give peace, love, and happiness to others, you need to make sure that you have an abundance of those things in your own life first. Once you’ve taken care of yourself and filled up your own cup, then you’ll have plenty to share with others.

To be a good leader, you must lead by example

A good leader knows that actions speak louder than words. If you want your team to be punctual, then you must be punctual. If you want your team to be respectful, then you must be respectful. If you want your team to be hard working, then you must be hard working. It’s as simple as that. By leading by example, you set the tone for the entire team. Your teammates will naturally follow your lead and emulate your behavior. So, if you want to be a good leader, make sure you’re always setting the right example. After all, actions speak louder than words.

You must first take care of yourself before you can take care of others

If you’re like most people, you probably spend a lot of time taking care of others. Whether it’s your kids, your parents, your pets, or your coworkers, there’s always someone who needs your help. But have you ever stopped to think about who’s taking care of you? If you’re not taking care of yourself, then you won’t be able to take care of others. It’s important to make time for yourself and do things that make you happy. Exercise, eat healthy foods, and get enough sleep. And don’t forget to relax and have some fun! When you take care of yourself, you’ll be in a better position to take care of the people and things that are important to you. 

So, if you want to be able to give your best to others, make sure that you take care of yourself first. African proverbs are wise sayings that have been passed down through the generations. They are still relevant today and offer valuable life lessons.
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