Do you know you are a people pleaser but can’t stop?
Join the club. Many people find themselves people pleasers and continue to do things for others long past the point of comfort. But, do not worry! There is a solution.
Being a people pleaser is often a symptom of codependency and relationship dysfunction
The people-pleasing definition can be confusing. Are you the kind of person who is always eager to be helpful to others? Kindness is one possibility. But that’s only a part of it. People pleasers are also taught by their culture or religion to do for others before caring for themselves. Sadly, it’s also a common trait of girls and women who are considered less than others in many cultures. Your people pleaser tendencies could also be a way to control situations by warding off other people’s anger or dislike. Quite simply you may want to be loved. But it also breeds powerful feelings of rage. your people-pleasing habits may be a simmering cauldron of resentment and blame.
Wait a minute there’s another definition. People pleasers are rampant in families with substance and alcohol addictions where life is chaotic and unpredictable and dangerous. Family dysfunction can mean a narcissist dominates others, and we can become people pleasers to stay out of harm’s way. Communication can help. Here’s how.
When communication is not effective, blame is bound to follow
I am a people pleaser because I don’t like confrontations. On the other hand, I don’t like to be told I’m wrong when I know I am right. So get this, I won’t speak up and then silently blame others instead. So I am a people pleaser and a blamer at the same time. It’s a paradox. Instead of setting reasonable boundaries, communicating effectively, and picking my battles, I am creating resentments. How can I avoid placing blame on others when the people pleasing in me promotes toxicity instead of true harmony? With tension heightened because of life, it isn’t easy.
Clear communication can be tough for people pleasers
Effective communication is important on so many levels. It’s how we understand what others need from us, and how we let people around us know what we need to stay OK. But, if historically your feelings haven’t mattered, or have not been well-received, you may be stuck in a lack of communication cycle. This is the time to really think about whether your communication skills need work because there are healthy ways to learn how to express ourselves, even with difficult people. But, like all health and wellness, it takes a little work and practice.
Other kinds of misunderstandings that plague people pleasers
Let’s face it, misunderstandings are going to happen more now than ever. Our heavy reliance on technology-based communication has grown exponentially. Text communication is a breeding ground for miscommunications. There is no tone, and we are left to our own perceptions to decipher what a message means to us. A “hello.” can come off aggressive due to the period at the end of the greeting instead of an exclamation point — or because you woke up on the wrong side of the bed that day. Healthy communication is difficult even when you’re not a people pleaser.
Email chains can be deadly for people pleasers who feel undermined
This is how people pleasing leads to blame in an office setting. Last week, I was in the midst of an email chain with several editors from a company I work for. There is a newer editor on the team with whom I was emailing. I already explained everything to her via Skype messenger, but she found it necessary to ask the same questions to staff members who are not in our department. I was fired up … I’m getting fired up thinking about it.
As a people pleaser, I thought I was being kind to her. Then I felt undermined by someone who constantly puts blame on everyone else. She always says something like, “Oh that’s strange, Mary told me…” or “How interesting, Jeff said it was done this way…” I’ve checked with these people, they never said anything. Naturally, I resented her even before the email chain. The point was my people pleasing made me react and get fired up when it just didn’t matter.
So many of us do this. It’s easy to ride with our emotions and place blame on others without considering all the variables of the issue at hand. It’s also important to remember that the way we are feeling prior to an event can change our perception of how we receive something. When the issue is you, understanding helps you lighten up.
Setting boundaries and choosing battles is the solution for people pleasing
So where is the solution to all of this? Setting boundaries and choosing battles seem to be the winning forces to avoid placing blame on others. These are both delicate skills to master. Setting boundaries will help troubleshoot a situation. Once a boundary is established, when an issue arises again, you can nip it in the bud. Choosing your battles comes when an issue is established you must decide “Is it worth it?”
When setting boundaries, stick your guns. If you say “no,” be consistent. Boundaries are a powerful form of self-care. In following up with my above example, the editor wanted my department to do work that isn’t our responsibility. I assertively said no across the board. She asked in multiple ways — the answer was always “no.” You’ll feel better in the long run, and the more appropriate boundaries you set, the healthier you will feel. This applies to all areas of life.
People pleasers need to pick their battles
As for picking your battles, ask yourself: Is it worth it? Or (as my sponsor suggests) how big is it? How much weight does this situation really hold on you? You’re in the grocery store and the seemingly unenthusiastic cashier seems to snap at you when you ask them to repeat the total for your order. You can only see their eyes looking back at you not giving many clues to the level of friendlies they are exhibiting. So do you jump to your conclusion and complain to a manager? Or realize they are probably overworked as an essential employee and didn’t snap at you, but rather raised their voice to repeat the total you asked for (remember, the mask … muffled taking … ah.) How big it is? Not that big — carry on.
People pleasing can be lessened when you step back and calm down
In taking a step back from a situation and responding instead of reacting will allow you to better choose your battles. Whether in public or at home, placing blame on others may seem like an easy way to redirect your emotions. In the long run, it builds toxicity and causes resentment. By avoiding habits such as blaming others, you will clear the potential toxicity it carries and live a healthier life.
