For a long time, as far back as I can remember actually, I have been the kind of person who wants to make other people feel good. I learned at a young age to “put others first”.

That is a fantastic lesson to teach a child, the art of selflessness. My daughter is one of those people who love to help, so I can proudly say that I have passed that on to her.

But there is a question that arises out of the act of being selfless: when and where do you draw that line?

There have been times in my life where I have had to make that decision, that “Here and no further” stance on issues.

At times it has taken me years to get there, other times a matter of days or even minutes.

They aren’t easy decisions, because they usually end with someone getting feelings hurt. Be it a colleague, a friend, or someone a bit closer, somebody is going to be impacted by this decision. I have fired employees who depended on me for their livelihood, and broken up with people I was in a relationship with seemingly, to them, out of the blue.

Those kinds of decisions are not easy to make for a self admitted “people-pleaser” like myself. I hate disappointing anyone, whether I know them or not. Especially when I know them well.

What good are you as a silver-lining person, when you become the rain cloud?

Well, let’s think about that one just for a moment, shall we?

Maybe, just maybe, by making those hard decisions, you set others up for something better down the road.

And, in turn, are setting yourself up, as well.

Ben Cox is the host of “Ben Cox in the Morning” weekday mornings from 6 to 9 on KQBZ, 96.9 FM in Brownwood Texas. He is the new in-stadium voice of the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets football team, & Ben is also an event DJ for weddings, parties and the like, and can be contacted through the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce.

The thoughts and comments reflected in this column are those of the writer alone, and do not necessarily reflect those of Wendlee Broadcasting, or its affiliates.