You Can’t Make Everyone Happy
Stop being a people pleaser
I used to be a people pleaser.
Things changed 17 years ago when I was engaged and conflicts in our family brought to light my intense struggle with needing to please people — and avoid conflict.
“I finally know the difference between pleasing and loving, obeying and respecting. It has taken me so many years to be okay with being different, and with being alive, this intense.” — Eve Ensler, I am an Emotional Creature
I have felt the same way, that it took me years to realize I am who I am and don’t have to jump through hoops just to please people.
During my engagement year, my friend gave me the book Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by John Townsend and Henry Cloud. I had felt like my life was out of control. I need to always be in control, so that was difficult. I learned through reading this book that I can’t control life no matter how hard I tried.
I went through extreme changes and emotional growth. I learned what it meant to be an emotionally intelligent adult. Since that year, I’ve experienced more growth — but that engagement year was the catalyst for change.
