On every flight there’s the same announcement:
"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the panel above your seat. Pull the mask towards you to start the flow of oxygen. Place it firmly over your nose and mouth, secure the elastic band, and breathe normally. Always fit your own mask before assisting others."
It sounds selfish. Why would you not help a child or partner first? Yet it is actually a very good wellness strategy.
Think about love and kindness. As noble as they sound, they are very hard to practise unless you are kind to yourself first. What you give others is usually limited by what you give yourself. The airline advice is the same—help yourself first, then help others. Not because you don’t care, but because it works better. On the plane it lowers panic, gives stability, and keeps people from dropping into fight-or-flight. The one who is calm can actually help.
Being kind to yourself though is not easy. It means being unconditional, non-judgmental, patient, and present. It means not playing games with yourself. When you are authentically compassionate to yourself, even if awkward and imperfect, that flows outward. Others feel it.
So maybe next time you fly, hear the announcement differently. Take it as a reminder for wellness. Try box breathing—inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. Put down the busyness, even for a moment. Just be there. Maybe even enjoy the flight.