We need to find a way of balancing our ‘inner’ work and our ‘outer’ work and we begin to appreciate a basic paradox: that in order to be truly generous, truly of service to others, we actually need to be completely ‘self-centred’. We need to be able to stay in touch with our own hearts, listening carefully to what they tell us, even while engaged in external activity or interaction. We need to remain attentive to our own needs, and to really make sure that these are well taken care of even if it means disappointing people, letting them down, not living up to the expectations they may have of us (or that we have of ourselves). This is not at all easy, with the conditioning most of us have: ‘Don’t be sel fish’.
Ajahn Candasiri, A Question of Balance
Mindfulbalance 
This is an amazing post. I have allowed others to ‘feed’ on me for my entire life. I can say that, thankfully, this pattern has toned down to low, low, low. Learning to say NO has been a powerful journey for me. I look forward to many more of your insightful words in 2013. Thank you for your work.
This is so true!! It really is a balance – finding the “middle path”. Between service to ourselves and others.
Thank you _/\_