Everyday Bravery: Stop People Pleasing

As girls we earned high praise for being quiet, polite, modest, and likable. Extra gold stars for being nice! But as grown women, it’s not hard to see how that training amounts to silenced voices, missed opportunities, unhappiness, and even depression. Behind it, all is the need to please others.

The good news is that even though it might feel impossible right now, we absolutely can break free of this need-to-please training. This week’s challenge will start that process going.

We just have to stop caring what they think.

Your Challenge: Stop People Pleasing
Do one simple thing you wouldn’t normally do, because you’re worried about what someone else might think.

Here are some suggestions:

• Say no to something you don’t have time for.
• If you always go out with a full face of makeup on, don’t wear any.
• Get weird! Sing or dance in public just because you can.
• Send a semi-consequential email without re-reading it first. (Typos don’t mean you’re stupid – and people know that!)
• Ask for help or a favor.