7 Ways to Cure Your People-Pleasing Tendencies

Breaking the Chains of People-Pleasing: 7 Empowering Steps to Reclaim Your Authenticity

I used to be very self-conscious around people I didn’t know and could not stop thinking about what they thought of me. I wanted everybody to like me, so I was afraid to show my true personality, but even then, I felt like some people didn’t like me. I would always agree with the majority and say yes to people even when I wanted to say no.

Are you a people-pleaser? Do you try to help everyone at the expense of your own needs? Do you try to make others happy to avoid confrontation? Do you feel guilty when you put yourself first? If so, you’re a people pleaser.

Trying to make others happy at your own expense is a poor way to spend your time and energy. Who has your best interests at heart if you’re looking out for everyone else? You might think you’re trying to be nice, but that’s not the full story.

People-pleasers need to make others happy, but the motive isn’t entirely altruistic. People-pleasers are attempting to avoid confrontation. They feel important by helping others. When they do something nice for another person, they feel good about themselves. Meanwhile, their own lives are unravelling. That used to be me.

They also lose the respect of others. No one else will either when you don’t respect your time or your needs. You’re training people to treat you badly.