It s important to remember, however, that a sense of self is not the same as being selfish. A sense of self means knowing who you are and what you want. It does not mean focusing only on yourself and always getting your way, she said. Taking the time to get to know yourself allows you to bring more to a relationship, Hoffman said. Working on your sense of self does not mean ignoring all that surrounds you.
People mature and grow at different rates.
It s possible that someone may feel comfortable with who he or she is at 22, while others might not feel well acquainted with themselves until their late 20s. Personal growth is on-going. One mistake that couples often make is thinking that they need to do everything together. They may not realize that too much togetherness can make even the best relationship sour. Think of personal time as an opportunity to charge your battery.