Are You a People-Pleaser?

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Are You a People-Pleaser?A people-pleaser isn’t just big-hearted or kind to others. Nor are people-pleasers compromising. People-pleasing differs from accommodating someone though we rather not, because we value the relationship and know that compromise is necessary to sustain it. People-pleasers don’t have the luxury of choice. Their behavior has become a lifestyle. It’s compulsive, because they’re unable to say no.

Everyone starts out in life wanting to be safe, loved, and accepted. It’s in our DNA. Some of us figure out that the best way to do this is to put aside what we want or feel and allow someone else’s needs and feelings to take precedence. This works for a while. It feels natural, and there’s less outer conflict, but our inner conflict grows. If we’d like to say no, we feel guilty, and we may feel resentful when we yes. We’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t.

 

Our strategy might create other problems. We may put in extra time at work and try to please the boss but get passed over for a promotion or discover we’re doing work we’re not enjoying at all. We may be very accommodating to family and friends and resent that we’re always the one called upon for help, extra work, or to take care of someone else’s problems.

Our love life might suffer, too. We give and give to our partner, but feel unappreciated or unimportant and that and our needs and desires aren’t considered. We may begin to feel bored, joyless, or mildly depressed. We may miss earlier times when we were happier or more independent. The anger, resentment, hurt, and conflict we always tried to avoid continue to grow. Being alone might appear to be a welcome escape from these challenges, but then we’d end up sacrificing our connection to others, which is what we truly want. Sometimes, it seems like we have to choose between sacrificing ourselves or sacrificing a relationship.

People-Pleasers Think It’s Easier to Just Go Along

We often feel trapped, but don’t know another way to be. Accommodating others is so ingrained in us that stopping is not only difficult, it’s terrifying. If we look around, we might notice other people who are well-liked and don’t people-please. We may even know someone who is kind or admired and is able to say no to requests and invitations. What’s more, they don’t seem to agonize about it with guilt. How they do that is baffling. We might even envy someone quite popular who doesn’t give a hoot about what others think. If we bother to reflect on all this, we may wonder how we got into such a mess and question our fundamental belief that pleasing is the road to acceptance.

Although there are other people who choose to be cooperative and kind, we don’t feel as if we have a choice. It can be as hard to say no to someone who needs us as it is to someone who abuses us. In either case, we fear it will negatively affect our relationship, and the guilt and fear of rejection or disappointing someone are overwhelming. We may have loved ones or friends who would become indignant and even retaliate if we were to say no. Each time, it gets easier to agree when we rather not or to go along and not object. We can turn into a human pretzel trying to win the love or approval of someone we care for – especially in a romantic relationship.

Starting in Childhood

The problem is that for many of us, our pleasing is more than kindness. It’s our personality style. Some children decide that accommodating their parents’ wishes is the safest way to survive in a world of powerful adults and the best way to win their parents’ acceptance and love. They try to be good and not make waves. “Good” means what parents want. Their parents may have had high expectations, been critical, had rigid rules, withheld love or approval, or punished them for “mistakes,” dissent, or showing anger. Some children learn to acquiesce merely by observing their parents’ actions with each other or another sibling. When parental discipline is unfair or unpredictable, children learn to be careful and cooperative to avoid it. Many of us are more sensitive and have a low tolerance for conflict or separation from parents due to genetic makeup, early interactions with parents, or a combination of various factors.

People-Pleasers Pay a Price

Unfortunately, people-pleasers are on a path of becoming alienated from their innate, true self. The underlying belief is that who we are isn’t lovable. Instead, we idealize being loved as a means to self-worth and happiness to the point that we crave it. Our need to be accepted, understood, needed, and loved causes us to be compliant and self-effacing. We conclude, “If you love me, then I’m lovable.” “You” comes to mean just about everyone, including people incapable of love!

Preserving our relationships is our uppermost mandate. We strive to be lovable and charitable and reject character traits that we decide won’t serve that goal. We can end up squelching entire chunks of our personality that are incompatible, like showing anger, winning competitions, exercising power, getting attention, setting boundaries, or disagreeing with others. Even when not asked, we willingly give up separate interests that would mean time away from a loved one. The slightest look of disappointment (which we may inaccurately infer) is enough to deter us from doing something on our own.

Assertiveness feels harsh, setting limits feels rude, and requesting that our needs be met sounds demanding. Some of us don’t believe we have any rights at all. We feel guilty expressing any needs if we’re even aware of them. We consider it selfish to act in our self-interest. We may even have been called selfish by a selfish parent or spouse. Our guilt and fear of abandonment may be so strong that we stay in an abusive relationship rather than leave.

It’s not surprising that we’re often attracted to someone who is the opposite of us – whose power, independence, and certitude we admire. Over time, we can start to think that unlike us, they’re selfish. In fact, we probably wouldn’t be attracted to someone of the opposite sex who is as kind and pleasing as we are. We would consider them weak, because deep down we dislike ourselves for being so compliant. Moreover, getting our needs met doesn’t rank high on our list. We’d rather be submissive – but eventually, pay a price for it.

We’re not aware that each time we hide who we are to please someone else, we give up a little self-respect. In the process, our true self (what we really feel, think, need, and want) retreats a bit more. We become accustomed to sacrificing our needs and wants for so long that we may not know what they are. Decades of conveniently accommodating “just this time” whittles away at our connection to our true self, and our lives and relationships begin to feel empty of joy and passion.

We can change!

It’s possible to change and find our voice, our power, and our passion. It requires getting reacquainted with that Self we’ve hidden, discovering our feelings and needs, and risking asserting and acting on them. It’s a process of learning to our sense of self-worth and Raise Your Self-Esteem and healing the shame we may not even know that we carry, but it’s a worthy adventure of self-reclamation. Learn more about the steps you can take in my books and ebooks here and take steps to become empowered and How to Be Assertive.

©Darlene Lancer 2014

 

Are You a People-Pleaser? by Darlene Lancer, MFT, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Santa Monica, CA, and author of Codependency for Dummies

 

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Bernadette Meade
Bernadette Meade
3 years ago

Hello totally relate to being a People pleaser,since early childhood learnt to get love approval from my Mum. Continue to look for external validation now. Get very high anxiety ambivalence in close intimate relationships.. feel I have to give myself up to be loved. Sometimes I rescue people.give advice, .at present I feel I want to be rescued saved, terrified of stepping into my own power, afraid of life.
Where do I begin..been in therapy for years..told to use Mindfulness.

Darlene Lancer, LMFT
3 years ago

You really need to learn specific skills and support in trying new behaviors. CBT would be beneficial. Do the exercises in my books and attend CoDA, and complain to your therapist that you haven’t made progress. Perhaps consider changing if he/she can’t be more helpful.

Darlene Lancer, LMFT
3 years ago

You need help in working through childhood trauma and to learn specific skills and support in trying new behaviors. CBT would be beneficial. Do the exercises in my books and attend CoDA, and complain to your therapist that you haven’t made progress. Perhaps consider changing if he/she can’t be more helpful.

Carolyn Fredrikson
Carolyn Fredrikson
4 years ago

Me too. Your statement reflects my thoughts as well. I even try and get my husbands ex’s approval! Why? SHe has no part in my life, her and her brother have been extremely rude to me, IN FRONT OF ME! I was so embarrassed, but I still want her to know that she’s doing a great job with their kids & for what? It’s a viscious cycle.

Redbuck5
Redbuck5
6 years ago

I am a Christian and sometimes that adds to the problem of Shame and Guilt. But it helps that I do have a Higher Power who knows all of me. People who know me know that if they ask my opinion of something, then they will get it. About 3 years ago I bought a white gold band and I wear it as a Grace ring. Not only does it confirm outwardly my dedication to God but it helps me to remember to be honest but in a way that remembers other people’s feelings. I am not a people pleaser but, I do care about other people’s feelings. If I cut down or dismiss how they feel about something personal, that shows I am not showing Grace and am being careless.

J.P
J.P
8 years ago

As a person in recovery, I’ve done a lot of reflection. However, I’m still a people pleaser. I believe this manifested itself during my childhood. My siblings and I lived under constant criticism, and all of us yearned for perfectionism. This led to feelings of insecurity, coupled with a lack of self-worth. Looking back, it was a recipe for disaster, and a paradise for addiction. My drug use masked the pain, and for the first time, I felt free to be me. I didn’t realize I was only numbing my feelings, not addressing them. Even though I’ve been in recovery for close to decade, I’m still unable to identify my wants and needs. Any suggestions?

codependent no more
codependent no more
8 years ago

Several years back I learned of codependency and learned I was one. I was abused by people in my twenties. I didn’t understand boundaries etc. Just the insane thought of “make others happy and I will be happy and I will not get hurt”. How wrong. Had horrible things happen. Enough so I’m lucky I wasn’t killed or worse. By the grace of God I am alive. I thank God as oft I remember which is nearly everyday for keeping me safe and for my family. It’s horrible to be blind to boundaries etc. It is absolutely terrible. And if you wake up the waking up process is extremely painful.

silvia
silvia
9 years ago

I love myself. I believe i am very valuable person. Still i have hard time to refuse help to people who need it (or i have an impression they need it, maybe i do not see some of them are abusers). I feel so much empathy I can easily put myself in their shoes and feel their needs (that is also many people find my support and coaching very useful and helpful). Maybe sometimes i over emphatize?
I realized i am assertive with people i do not care so much about. Once i am in the deeper relationship i just do not want that they feel disappointed, rejected, hurt. I know it is their perception but still i want to help them feel good. What is this?

silvia
silvia
9 years ago

I love myself. I believe i am very valuable person. Still i have hard time to refuse help to people who need it (or i have an impression they need it, maybe i do not see some of them are abusers). I feel so much empathy I can easily put myself in their shoes and feel their needs (that is also many people find my support and coaching very useful and helpful). Maybe sometimes i over emphatize?
I realized i am assertive with people i do not care so much about. Once i am in the deeper relationship i just do not want that they feel disappointed, rejected, hurt. I know it is their perception but still i want to help them feel good. What is this?

Darlene Lancer, MFT
9 years ago
Reply to  silvia

Sounds clearly like codependency and that you’re not empathizing enough with yourself and your needs. Read and do the exercises in Codependency for Dummies, and see what you decide.

mom
mom
9 years ago

Just came across this website and it is great! I am looking forward to reading some of your books. I have dug myself into a hole with my people pleasing. Not so much with not being able to say no, but by conforming myself to the beliefs of others out of fear of rejection, being wrong, being less than, etc. I actually joined a church because I wanted the love and approval from someone and now I feel like a fraud. Not to say that I wouldn’t have joined the church on my own, but I know deep down my motives were to gain approval, so it doesn’t feel authentic and now there are children involved and family involved and I don’t know what to do.

Darlene Lancer, MFT
9 years ago
Reply to  mom

I suggest doing the exercises in Conquering Shame and Codependency. What you’re describing is shame anxiety from not feeling worthy when being authentic. See also my blog “Affirming Your Authentic Self”.” Join Al-Anon or Coda meetings. Counseling would be helpful as well.

Rebecca Goodrich
Rebecca Goodrich
9 years ago
Reply to  mom

Man, I did the EXACT same thing. I totally feel you. Learning to assert yourself in a loving way is a work in progress but will make you feel so much better. Wishing you luck!

todd
todd
9 years ago

Ive always felt other people are better than me. So to feel loved i have always been people pleaser. I can remember wanting to punish myself as early as 5 because i must deserve it. Im 53 now and sick of feeling like a worthless pos. Thank you for the read

June
June
9 years ago

This is great. I was diagnosed as a people pleaser and I was aware of my own co-dependency. I have had help from others now that is helping me change. I realise now how I could have been a target for those that saw me as someone that could be controlled and easily manipulated.

bluelady
bluelady
9 years ago

this article is amazing, I mean it was like my feelings given words.I never thought that so many people go through this , I used to think myself stupid because nobody understand how suffocated and trapped I feel in my in-laws house. and that too coming from a writer of western origin????? my god kudos to you Darlene for writing something unspoken and unthinkable.

Darlene Lancer, MFT
9 years ago
Reply to  bluelady

Thank You. Know that you’re not trapped for ever. These feelings can change. Start by doing the exercises in my books.

Lost
Lost
9 years ago

wow, everything written here speaks to me. I don’t like myself because of this. 2 years ago, I asked my narcissistic husband for a divorce. For years before that I knew something wasn’t right, and thought it was all me. Now I know it isn’t. I was aware of codependency, but with his emotional abuse, I became worse of a codependent than better.
I just started going to CODA meetings. I really want to be me and ask for what I want. I find it very difficult to ask for what I want and need.
Thank you for the information you have written in your blog. The words are helpful.

Lost
Lost
9 years ago

wow, everything written here speaks to me. I don’t like myself because of this. 2 years ago, I asked my narcissistic husband for a divorce. For years before that I knew something wasn’t right, and thought it was all me. Now I know it isn’t. I was aware of codependency, but with his emotional abuse, I became worse of a codependent than better.
I just started going to CODA meetings. I really want to be me and ask for what I want. I find it very difficult to ask for what I want and need.
Thank you for the information you have written in your blog. The words are helpful.

Pleaser
Pleaser
9 years ago

Oh, now I know who am I, so I need to change asap!

Darlene Lancer, MFT
9 years ago
Reply to  Pleaser

Remember that the biggest change is in accepting who you are!

Renata, Pharmacist, Zagreb/Croatia
Renata, Pharmacist, Zagreb/Croatia
9 years ago

Beautiful article. It is as if I was reading about myself! hahaha

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