How often do you say “yes” when you really want to say “no”?
👉🏼 Attending a party when you’d rather stay home and rest.
👉🏼 Accepting a bridesmaid role when your bank account is begging to be just a guest.
👉🏼 Signing your kid up for an activity that hijacks your beloved Sunday mornings.
👉🏼 Going on a second date because you feel bad.
👉🏼 Taking on another work project, when your plate is already full.
Each and every time you say yes to something that doesn’t feel good to you, you abandon your True Self.
You compromise your own fulfillment and happiness to accommodate other people—hoping they’ll think better of you.
People-pleasing is a form of manipulation—disguised as being a “good” and caring person.
Look at me! I’m a good mom, a good friend, a good employee, a good sister. I put everyone’s needs before my own.
Clients often tell me:
“I don’t want to disappoint them.”
“I don’t want to hurt their feelings.”
But the truth is—it’s not really about them.
It’s about you not wanting to feel uncomfortable.
⚠️ You don’t want to face someone’s disappointment, frustration, or judgment in response to standing up for what you truly want or need.
The real work is learning to:
- Honor your True Self when it’s saying “no”
- Let others have whatever thoughts and feelings about it and you (the good, the bad or the ugly)
You are not responsible for other people’s feelings.
Whatever reaction someone has to you honoring your best interest is theirs to navigate—not yours.
Q: So… I should never do anything for anyone else?
A: Of course you should! But do it because you genuinely want to—not out of obligation, guilt, or fear of what someone might think.
If you can’t find a reason that feels good and true to you—don’t do it.
That’s the bottom line.
In my new video, I expand on this exact topic:
👉🏼 People-pleasing is Ruining Your Life—and Others!
Thanks for watching!
