You First

Why do we show up for everyone else—but leave ourselves for last? In this episode of The Last Two Percent, I dive into the real reasons so many of us struggle to put ourselves first—and how to begin creating habits that center your needs without guilt.

To help guide that shift, I reference Gretchen Rubin’s insightful framework from her book The Four Tendencies, which breaks people down by how they respond to expectations:

• Upholders meet both inner and outer expectations
• Questioners question all expectations; they’ll meet an expectation if it makes sense to them
• Obligers readily meet outer expectations but struggle with inner ones (often putting themselves last)
• Rebels resist all expectations—both outer and inner

Understanding which tendency you fall into can help you design habits, systems, and boundaries that actually work for your personality—and support your journey to stop putting yourself second.

💛 A huge thank you to @gretchenrubin for her groundbreaking work in The Four Tendencies, which serves as a foundation for this episode’s insights.

Inside this episode:

• Why self-prioritization feels uncomfortable but is essential
• How your tendency may be shaping your patterns around burnout, boundaries, and follow-through
• Specific tips tailored to each tendency to start putting “you first”
• A mindset shift to help you reclaim your energy, time, and attention

This is your moment to stop waiting for permission—and start showing up for you.

This is Alina Patton Jones from The Last Two Percent, thanks for listening. Would love to hear from you, follow me on instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/alina_patton