THIS is how to end your people-pleasing

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Key Points
00:00 - What is people pleasing?
04:30 - Create Space
05:43 - Set Boundaries
08:50 - Self Soothe

[@ZFabia2010]

1. I am Safe to disappoint peaple 2. I can NOT be everything to everyone 3. I take Care of Me.

[@vanshikathakur]

It is safe for me to say No. I don't need a reason to say No. Other people can handle their emotions. I am not responsible for other people's emotions. I'm safe.

[@glowplug4762]

Sadly as a People Pleaser, I found out that if you "save the day" enough times. Others end up expecting you to "save the day" every time....... Thank You for the info!!

[@Games-and-make-up]

And when you don’t, they suddenly keep saying you’re unreliable even if it happened once. BUT - it’s either they or you who is happy. And you should live life for you in the end. ❤ They can choose how they can take the situation too, and if they are suffering because of that, it’s on themselves tbh.

[@mrsmucha]

Yep.

[@lisasantucci8220]

WELL SAID!!!! 👍👏👏👏😊

[@mm669]

Yes, they are "entitled" to it.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

Yep!

[@yukio_saito]

"The more you please them, the more they depend on you." I learned this the hard way. 😮‍💨

[@oliveludicrous]

And sometimes we co-create the needy monsters some of them end up becoming.

[@realhealing7802]

Exactly! They expect you to drop everything for them. It's a constant sacrifice for you only.

[@kathleenmcnally9583]

The more they take advantage of of you which basically means they’ve no respect for you😡

[@TinaOsborne-wb7sb]

In childhood, I had to do all I could to please my mother, even at my own emotional expense. If I didn't, she could erupt in anger. So now, I struggle with thinking of myself and my own feelings. In every interaction, I feel a need to be who others want or need me to be.

[@michysteiner2003]

I relate to that. I am 51 now and learning to be me. Getting to know myself, the girl I could have been from the beginning. So happy I am learning how 🥰

[@realhealing7802]

Same story here. I could never be enough or do enough. She wanted me to sacrifice my soul. I had to go low contact to save my mental health and physical health.

[@airavibes]

No one talks about how lonely it is to say no. People expect you to sacrifice yourself for their gain and if you say no, they stop talking to you. Why does no one ever talk about this?!

[@lisasantucci8220]

Good Point ! They ALSO Don't Talk about how when you need help....No one Cares! OR they want to be paid when you helped them for FREE!!!!

[@larsstougaard7097]

Yeah and when I got sick no one was there for me, the system broke down. Can be super lonely when you let go of the old and the new is not established

[@oliveludicrous]

To find the people that you can trust is difficult. Discerment is an artform that very few masters. Do not help people if they do not ask you to, and if they ignore you do not give them energy. Being unavailable attracts people, looking for heroes makes everybody run away.

[@usernameisunavailable8270]

Like my boyfriend. He "asked" if we could get this dog that is still young, untrained, and has a biting and potty issue. I said no. He got mad and fought with me about it. I told him ,"it wasnt really a yes or no question was it?" He got the dog anyway. Then apologizes AFTERWORDS, over text instead of face to face.

[@Cyndib93]

I find that the people who benefited from your lack of boundaries may indeed be very disappointed/disapproving or exit your life. That is quite lonely and painful at first, but it also opens up space for healthier people. To me, the worst loneliness is abandoning yourself in order to please others who don’t care about you as much as what you can do for them.

[@karmennash7479]

“Let them feel whatever.”

[@9746james]

😂 Yes their feeling are not our responsibility

[@spacegirl226]

I've learned that saying no to others when I used to say yes all the time has made me more enemies than friends. I get more grief trying to care for myself, which I was not allowed to do EVER, instead of dropping everything and helping someone work on their crisis -- knowing that I would not get that same respect back. Finished with that. People are just going to have to get mad and be disappointed. I'm working on not feeling intense shame and guilt for not helping. It's still really difficult. Thank you, Nicole.

[@watchingthewaves1]

I am also dealing with this to. I had to learn to let some of these people go and be okay with . I was just so tired of the cycle and always the one upset .

[@Datb2]

FK EM 😂

[@spacegirl226]

@@Datb2 FIST BUMP

[@spacegirl226]

@@watchingthewaves1 Yes, I feel that too. Exhausted being stuck in the endless cycle and being the one upset while they didn't give a rip, while they did something else unreasonable that we had to put up with. No more! Internet hugs to you. Eventually we will get there, and we will let their emotions stay with them and not let their emotions affect us.

[@Avery_4272]

I think that those who would shift to being enemies when we need to say no in order to tend to our own well-being...aren't really friends. A true friend might feel disappointed that you couldn't help them with something, but ultimately wouldn't want you to do anything you didn't feel comfortable and available to do.

[@vanshikathakur]

❤❤❤ "How do I feel? What do I feel? What do I need?" THIS🎯🎯🎯

[@lindamac45]

I was taught as a female in a large male family that the guys were patted on the back for setting boundaries. The female's were shamed for being selfish!! I grew up being a people pleaser. Now I know better.

[@MegaDeath22]

I call it Captain Save a hoe. I’ve struggled with this for my whole life. I know it’s because I felt abandonment from my mom, but I hate that I always put all my energy to others, and never put that energy on myself. I’m learning thanks to you! ❤

[@-astrangerontheinternet6687]

“Don’t save her, she don’t want to be saved.”

[@MegaDeath22]

@@-astrangerontheinternet6687 words of wisdom!!!

[@lunadog71]

'I am safe to disappoint people' made my mind exlode (in a good way 😊). THIS is exactly what my people pleasing tendency is rooted in. The negative impact people pleasing has had for me is that the resentment builds up until I have an episode of explosive anger and end up harming the relationships I am so afraid of losing. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for sharing your wisdom Dr. Nicole. ❤

[@Love1011]

Very helpful video. Thank you! People pleasing often overwhelms me, and to get relief I end up cutting people out of my life. Instead of having proper boundaries in the first place.

[@leeannpendleton65]

Me too 😢

[@AlThurayya7]

Fucking same man.. haven't watched yet but glad to see comments saying this has been helpful, especially from people who've shared similar experiences 🙏🏾

[@morana1100]

Over the past 20 years, I've been on a people-pleasing journey, constantly trying to gain approval from others. A massive change in my life forced me to self-reflect, and I realized some hard truths. No matter what you do for certain people, they will always hate you and never change their minds about you. People-pleasing often leads to tons of disrespect that you tolerate just because they are your friends and family. Just like in the story of the man and the donkey, sometimes over-caring leads to self-destruction or the destruction of something valuable.Just like Harvey said, "When they know you care, they will walk all over you".I'm not saying don't care but sometimes you should care enough for yourself to walk away from relationships that are not worth saving. When you don't matter to certain people, you try to give them more. Once they realize you're not going to leave no matter what they do, they will never change. "Some people are like anchors. If you are tied to them, you will drown." When you reach a point where you question whether a relationship or friendship is worth saving, it's a clear sign to ponder deeply. This question wouldn't arise if everything was fine. It will hurt, and the decision won’t be 100% beneficial, but if you don’t leave, you’ll always wonder what it would be like if you did. Being blessed with a soft heart doesn't mean you should place it on the road and let people walk all over it. Give some of the love to yourself that you are giving to others. Hope this helps perplexed people pleasers to their badass era.

[@SneakyPlu]

Just what I needed to hear. I am not responsible to make sure others are doing oke, I am responsible to make sure I am oke. Sadly not all people in my life agree with that and throw the most hurtful remarks when I state my boundaries. Its absolutely heartbreaking, but if I dont respect my boundaries, who will? Not them aparently. Its hard to do whats right for yourself and to not feel selfish or like a bad person.

[@juliet8678]

I can always tell if I've been over-people pleasing, when it starts to feel like a one-way street, especially when I start setting boundaries with clients or in relationships, and they give me a hard time about it!!

[@user-xu7ri4iu3y]

I was a massive people pleaser and a emotional thinker because I would put other people's feelings before mine. I kept getting conned and used by people. Because I was either to trusting and didn't realise people were using me. And I had to learn that people are thinking about themselves and will like to take from people to get what they want. A lot of people are self motivated and like being in the superior position. If they see someone have something they want they want to take it for themselves. I had to learn to say no to people because people kept trying to take things from me. I had to learn a lot of people are hypocrites they would take someone else's but they would not give away anything to other people . A lot of people like to see if people are stupid enough to give them something if people are talking about money or a opportunity they would like for themselves. That's why I have learned to not to overshare and notice peoples facial expressions and tone of voice to see if they are insincere. Putting our feelings first is the best thing to do. If people show disrespect they lack respect. I have learned to ignore arrogant big mouths types they are all the same type of people. They all love to make a fool out of people. The users .takers, sarcastic people,snobby people, backstabbers, preachy people. That's why it's best no to be to polite because people can use politeness against people. If people say no they can say that's not nice. Be kind. We should do what is in our interest and just walk away if we think people are using us. We should do what is good for us

[@Tinyteacher1111]

Been there!!!

[@mining4goldmeister420]

Thank you, Nicole. You words, reflections and depth of understanding a person with CPTSD are truly astounding. It's like you are rummaging around in my brain, touching all the broken bits and showing a way to heal them. My BIGGEST hurdle has been and always will be not know what "healthy" looks like. I can't tell you the times I've sat here thinking "ok, I see that I developed this particular behavior as a way to feel safe, to cope, and can see how it is actually harmful to me (and to others) . So, now that I see this pattern, how do I do it differently? How do I respond, resolve conflict, & state my needs in a healthy way as I was never taught how growing up. How to view the world from the inside out instead of the outside in." That is where your work in invaluable beyond measure. It has become my North Star, my compass heading me in the right direction. Learning what healthy and whole looks like is the secret to sucess. Thanks again for leading by example.

[@Xarde]

"We cannot be everything to everyone. We will disappoint the ones we love the most. This is part of being human."

[@TheDavveponken]

First 30s is the best description of this I've heard so far I think. We betray ourselves.

[@oliveludicrous]

I believe we're betraying everybody else too. It feels good to be needed, but it also is a kind of false image shown to the world of being someone super-generous, super-understanding and the perfect friend/parent/spouse. Before or later the fascade cannot be kept. Ah! So much trouble we're going through only to gain control and feel safe. Life is so short.

[@TheDavveponken]

@@oliveludicrous Very true. It was the reason I broke up with the love of my life. She was just a facade in the end. Underneath was just a scared, hurt and hurtful little girl. Boy did it hurt.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

The journaling thing is what I do in the form of a text in which I write and say EVERYTHING I’m thinking. Then, I’ve LEARNED to not send it immediately, but saving it and editing the next day, or not sending it at all.

[@kathleenmcnally9583]

That’s genuis

[@alphadog3384]

Appreciate how you sight examples in your videos and shorts. Stop, Look, Listen.

[@brendagregoryyuen4923]

Yay! Love this topic and your words. As a card-carrying former People Pleaser, I have changed. It wasn't easy and I lost some relationships along the way, but I know if they were based on what I did for someone else, they weren't real or healthy relationships -- they were transactions.

[@jaynfontain6635]

O.M.G. I had to go through my history to find this video so I could say Thank You!!! because these words just came out of MY mouth: "I am sorry, I don't think I can do that right now."

[@mancdec]

Can totally resonate.❤.. The person I had to disappoint did not accept the boundary and became verbally abusive..and offended that I had stood up for myself, but I realised I was just appeasing them to keep the peace, I didn't feel like myself etc.. In the end I had to walk away, causing further guilt, but continuing working on myself now.

[@SLily777]

This is so helpful. I’m just realizing how much I was affected by my childhood and how to love myself by respecting my feelings and creating healthy boundaries. Thank you!

[@elizabethash4720]

This has been the best lesson on people pleasing I have seen. Never too late, thankyou 💓

[@collective_tarot]

I am hearing that song by "Linkin Park" called "Breaking the Habit" right now!! I'm breaking the habit of people pleasing!

[@5150Targeted]

To bond or emesh?.. that is the question!

[@EmpathicallyEm]

I’ve suffered from this most of my life! But I’m excited to try this going forward! Thank you! Many blessings.

[@VeronicaSReynoso-fp8ip]

Thank you for taking the time to make this KZbin. I recently realized that I'm a codependent people pleaser. I've been living like this for 50 years. It hasn't been fun thanks to you and other people that have made KZbin. I now am living a life of peace and love and joy and it started with me having a relationship with God.

[@bandekhodah341]

Thank you❤ very precious helpful advice. Hope I remember to pause first and affirm I am safe to disappoint people. I take care of me.I admit it is indeed difficult to not want to escape this uncomfortable situation. Boundary setting still seems terrifying at times, still practicing. It seems like distancing and isolating is the only option left for many to avoid durther draining conflict and justification as to why your walls and red flag and bs detectors are flared up.Only animals and nature provide comfort as navigating any human interaction or worse group dynamics is becoming extremely difficult for hsp and neurodivergents and cptsd afflicted alike.

[@ladyfae4797]

@bandekhodah I'm right there with you! As an hsp with CPTSD and not being neuro typical being out in nature is my favorite place.

[@shakucoan8297]

I'm glad you mentioned groups. I've recently had to leave a few groups because they had a member with an antagonistic personality style. Now that I know when I'm being treated badly, just one person can spoil the group experience for me.

[@sarahjmount9221]

Thank you once again for a great, informative, and insightful video. It is extremely helpful and assists in filling my toolbox. I people pleased to the point of sacrificing my very being and giving away all the positive things I had in my life that I worked hard for and rightfully earned just to get anyone to care about me. Even if they treated me like shit and were blatantly using me, I just gave and did for anyone. It backfired. I ended up getting more abused and disrespected. I’ve come a long way but it took me a very large chunk of my life. This is one of the best tutorials on how to break that habit, deal with the negative emotions that go along with doing that, and put myself first for a change. I’ve done a lot of this work, like I said but this just added to it so much in 14 mins. People pleasing and fawning are very difficult survival mechanisms and behaviors to overcome. You spelled it out so well. ❤

[@kamalimasters5287]

Thankyou so much. I have done this my whole life and am know so drained that i cant even go to work. What happens at the highest level is that you loose everything. Your marriage, family etc. And they know you are struggling yet, the response is get on with it or they dont even check in that you are okay. Wow what a cruel set of people i have engaged with, not even an offer of there couch to sleep on or a can i help you. Thankyou for the visuals as i have your books and struggle to comprehend them at present. But these visuals help me so much. I am grateful. Blessings to you. 🙏🤗

[@tizip9690]

I learned you have to love yourself as if your life depends on it! It took the death of my husband 2.5 years ago to take a long hard look at myself. I was a life long people pleaser…I made myself available to my whole family and answer ed yes all the time. I changed that at pattern…it was tough and I received a lot of push back. I did successfully set boundaries and I can report I feel so confident now that I created the space for me time.

[@kathleenmcnally9583]

I am soo grateful for you . Ever since I found that all I was doing was trying to make others feel happy, I’ve been berating myself so now I’m teaching myself to be kind and patient with myself while learning I come first and of course there is pushback but I’m sticking with the truth that I am a worthwhile person who deserves to also be made happy . Thank you Nicole❤

[@deedieducati2272]

I have learned to think before answering and the delay has taught me more about myself and what I'm willing to give, and if what I get from it is worh it to me. People tend to manipulate you into doing things and once you're "in it" you feel stuck. Step out of the forest, look at all of the trees and remove any emotion from the situation. If this were someone else's problem and they asked you for advice, what would you tell them? Then....follow that advice.

[@comnandmentsdeadlysins]

My greatest gift in life is having 2 people in my life that are recovering people pleasers like me. It is a joy to hear....."If you can or want to and No is ok. Will you......." I can say No without even a gut feeling of guilt because they truely have consideration for who I am and how I feel. Generally their request is to watch the grandchild or grand dog which I can not refuse as that is a dose of fun and unconditional Love to fill me up. Who refuses pure organic medicine?

[@sandamalirajapakse5648]

Dear Dr Nicole, 💖💐 You truly are blessed to know, having experienced or learnt in any other way, what you know & feel and be able to articulate it so well so any one who feels/acts this way or knows some one, can easily understand and learn to deal with it in their journey. In our part of the world, Sri Lanka, amidst all the suffering due to corruption & self serving policy, we would not be able to ever afford the luxury of having a one on one meeting with you so this is the next best thing & it is so helpful. Wishing you the best of health ❤ May you go from strength to strength You have the blessings of all the people you touch & assist in healing 🙏

[@nerminyilmaz1719]

Thank you Greetings from Germany

[@MusicaErika]

I can’t thank you enough for this useful practices 🙏💜💜💜

[@CoachStephenDredd]

I love listening to you. You are so soothing haha

[@peacefulhorse3374]

Love this format for sharing your teaching! Much easier to take in the information this way! Thanks so much for a fantastic video!

[@sino4456]

I would say yes or agree, then build resentment and cancel at last minute. Im not proud of that behaviour, Ive lost friends but Im working on my communication.

[@user-dr6vj8ez9q]

Learning different behavior is never easy! Great advice & helps you stay true to yourself!❤❤

[@godzillamanstreb524]

It does take time to reroute our neural pathways

[@mw5307]

🙏🏽Thank you! (Listen from Sweden)

[@littleiodine9480]

I feel that if I do not want to watch the dog for any reason, offering to help them find someone that can, just might be trying to cover up guilt I should not be feeling because I said no.

[@Turtlpwr]

I’ve had an issue with people pleasing my whole life and I’m finally starting to break out of it at the end of my 30s

[@jenniferannegarcia]

Thank you Nicole! I am crying in a good way ❤

[@lavicyyoung7574]

I love you and your work. You have helped me SO much. Thank you!!!

[@giftkafani]

I needed this🙏😢

[@ZFabia2010]

She is EXCELLENT

[@kevinewing-oo8ix]

I was everything to every one..... Didn't work. Save your energy!

[@debbiehopper5288]

Great video!!!

[@singstreetcar5881]

Stop people pleasing cause people cant be pleased

[@marina-li3tk]

Love your video class-type explanations so so helpful and easy to remember. I recpmend you everytime I can

[@debbiestout2657]

Thank you ❤

[@alphadog3384]

Thanks for also using DBT skills as well.

[@Rebecca0010]

I’m ready.

[@KJDogluv]

Thank you!

[@deelynn8611]

Problem is, my career in entertainment was based on that. And i loved it.

[@paulamanuelamarquesbastos]

Thanks you from Portugal ❤!

[@TheCeg3303]

Thank you

[@michysteiner2003]

Thank you 🙏🌹

[@juliahenrion2479]

Thanks so much 😊

[@the.toxic.phoenix]

Does this extend beyond saying yes to stuff? Like I find it really hard to say anything to my cleaner, when she misses things / does a bad job / on her phone all the time etc 😑

[@aaronjohn6586]

Yep, it's a job not a relationship, would your employer tolerate what she is doing if you did it? So, your choice to tolerate her behavior or not.

[@the.toxic.phoenix]

@@aaronjohn6586 I totally get it, just find it really hard to say something 😑 ridiculous because I don't need her to like me and if she's upset then I can get another cleaner... But I feel sick whenever I try to say something

[@happygucci5094]

Yeah it the same thing. You are placing the feelings/ needs of someone else over your own.

[@luckycharm1212]

​@@the.toxic.phoenixWhen you feel like this then it's a sign that's she's not a good one for you. Usually our people pleasing mode kicks in when we feel anxious around someone. That person would have triggered our past parental wounds. So take this as an opportunity to stand up for yourself. I please people whom I don't like coz I am scared that they would hurt me if I am not nice to them. So, everytime I have this urge to please, it's a sign that I should limit my contact with this person or in the case of a cleaner, should throw them out. This is what I personally experienced. Your experience might be completely different from mine. But I guess you would have got an idea.

[@the.toxic.phoenix]

@@luckycharm1212 you've hit the nail on the head, she says things that upset me, and she's in an abusive relationship that she tells me about and it triggers me... I found it hard to talk to my previous cleaner, but nothing like this, because she was kind and listened to me. I think I've kept her this long because I feel sorry for her, but it's not good for me and she's not doing what I need done... I know I chat nervously around the gardener/Handyman (I'm disabled, not rich) but I think it's just cos he's a man who strongly resembles my ex...

[@Xarde]

"I am safe to disappoint people I cannot be everything to everyone I take care of me "

[@ryannesumbry4130]

Hello my name is Ryanne and I am a recovering ❤️‍🩹 people pleaser

[@ReneeB-mz9cx]

Omg Ryanne is a gorgeous name 😮

[@kevinewing-oo8ix]

Wife here...Because of spiritual beliefs, I thought I had to do, pay or fix because he was my husband. He ended up brutally abandoning me in the woods. Took money. Broke all snow mobiles and other expensive items. Ran away with all I bought. Never looked back. Called me a narc. ..is when I started learning

[@sheindyone]

The problem is, I never know what I want to do

[@Rupes2525]

How do you deal with the voice and the real feeling that after saying no and set a boundary, you have 'sinned' or done something terribly wrong? Like you're a bad person and the CONVINCING voice that you are; so that you can't even 'enjoy' the space from having said no, and wonder if you should've said 'yes' instead?

[@justacitygirl]

The hair.. Jennifer Anniston in Y2K. Outdated. I disappoint people daily with my bluntness but I'm ok with it now.

[@ousontmeslunettes9891]

How to procede when you say you need time and space to reflect and people start instantly to pressure you instead ?

[@sheindyone]

Why are people not able to listen without carrying the other person's heaviness???

[@annieesther8405]

Does liking feeling needed fall under the same category?

[@mehmandst.94]

🙏🙏🙏

[@birsenkiyak9782]

❤🙏

[@Youtubewonderer]

✨🙏🏻🌷🙏🏻✨

[@Slechy_Lesh]

3:11

[@ReneeB-mz9cx]

Transmuted my empath skills into dark empathy and embraced my villain era. Never knew being an empath who predicted peoples needs and hold them hostage rather than myself could be so much fun 😈

[@DanielBarron45]

You need Jesus.

[@ReneeB-mz9cx]

@@DanielBarron45 fav compliment

[@luckycharm1212]

​@@ReneeB-mz9cxHow did you do this? I am really interested.

[@oliveludicrous]

It is fun for a short while, and then i sabotage myself trying to make the world punishing me for the shit i made other eat without them knowing how or why or who. It is just stupid believing yourself to be able to manipulate people, cause in the end you have to live with yourself everafter. Usually all you need to do when people hurt you without good cause is to wait. In most cases they get to eat their own shit, just as i have to when i am the asshole. If you're about to do something you do not want others to know, do not do it.

[@tizip9690]

I learned you have to love yourself as if your life depends on it! It took the death of my husband 2.5 years ago to take a long hard look at myself. I was a life long people pleaser…I made myself available to my whole family and answer ed yes all the time. I changed that at pattern…it was tough and I received a lot of push back. I did successfully set boundaries and I can report I feel so confident now that I created the space for me time.

[@Shaheen_Odushlu]

Thank you ❤