Life will always test our true character whether ready or not...choose wisely

That's not an absolute for me. There was a time I would have given my life to protect my spouse .. still would for my sons.

As a general rule in life, I agree, that is, to put ourselves first.

Then there come circumstances when we need to protect another, at a difficult moment, but it is very wise to choose our battles, meaning to choose where we give our energy, in order to have enough to replenish ourselves. If everyone were doing more of that, there would be less needing help out there.

It really is a matter of not being able to help others if you don't help yourself first.

An analogy that comes to mind: