Anyone who hasn’t developed a self that is truly his or her own lives a life that is a shallow showpiece . The little nourishment they get is restricted to the approval they receive in return for pleasing others. It’s a little like making a meal for friends while you yourself have to settle for licking the serving spoon.
Doing for others can be a genuine source of happiness in and of itself, but not without taking care of yourself as well. In the same way, doing as you please may allow you a joyous sense of freedom, but it’s unsatisfying if ignoring the needs of others results in the emptiness of isolation.
Where do we draw the line? How can we strike a balance? All we can do is take our best shot and try to learn from our mistakes.
There are no hard and fast rules for living with others.