Mental Health Therapy Services
Do you ever feel like your worth is tied to keeping others happy or meeting their expectations?
If you’ve ever found yourself putting others’ needs ahead of your own, sometimes to your own detriment, you’re not alone.
People-pleasing often takes root in childhood, especially when love, attention, or approval were conditional.
✨ You might be a people pleaser if:
You were only shown attention when you achieved something: You may have learned that success or accomplishments were the only way to feel seen or valued.
You were praised only when you were compliant and did what you were told: Instead of being encouraged to express your needs or opinions, you might have felt like you had to follow the rules to earn approval.
You felt responsible for keeping your parent in a good mood: When you grow up feeling like it’s your job to manage someone else’s emotions, you learn to suppress your own to avoid conflict.
You were taught that you needed to “do something for others” to be loved and validated: You may have been conditioned to believe your value lies in what you can provide for others rather than simply being yourself.
Your parents were inconsistent and had high expectations: When love or validation feels unpredictable, you may overcompensate by trying to meet impossible standards to gain approval.
What is the impact of this?
Over time, you might find yourself prioritizing others’ needs while losing sight of your own identity and desires. You might struggle with setting boundaries, fear rejection, or feel guilty when you try to prioritize yourself.
Here’s the good news:
This isn’t your fault, and it’s not permanent.
These patterns were learned as a way to survive emotionally challenging environments, but you can unlearn them.
Healing starts with
Recognizing these behaviors as survival mechanisms, not personality flaws.
Learning to reconnect with your own needs and emotions.
Setting boundaries that honor your well-being, even when it feels uncomfortable at first.
Exploring the deeper roots of these patterns with a therapist who can provide a safe and supportive space to heal.
You don’t have to earn love. You don’t have to prove your worth. You deserve to be seen, valued, and accepted, just as you are.
Learn more about how people pleasing can stem from emotional neglect, how it affects your life and how to heal in my latest blog - Why Emotional Neglect Can Lead to People Pleasing Behaviors. Link in bio!
Comments
Post a Comment