Are you a people pleaser?

Some say that people pleasing is "The disease to please," and can become an addiction.
Just as a drug addict seeks drugs, a people pleaser seeks approval.

Do you seek approval?

Have you found yourself; buying gifts you can’t afford, running people around all hours of the day,
doing someone’s ironing when your own looks like the ‘leaning tower of Pisa’ or babysitting 20 kids so all your friends can all go out together without you?.

We should all try and help our family and friends and make them happy because we love them and give for the pleasure of giving. But, the need to please others at all costs and being everything to everyone is an impossible expectation and can be completely exhausting. These can be the actions of a desperate person, someone desperately needing to please, which can often leave us being taken for granted.

Some people pleasers will do anything, say anything and go anywhere to please, that’s a very dangerous position to be in. Don’t you think? I can remember being in an environment where I was so desperate to please, that I would volunteer for everything, even knowing at times I had no time or no energy to do it. I have even changed my personality to be liked and fit in, this sounds crazy!  But I so needed their acceptance and approval.

I was desperate to be valued and liked!!  I have done things I really didn’t want to do, I’ve said things I didn’t mean and gone to places didn’t want to go. And, I still found that there is ‘no pleasing’ some people. 

Do you feel you need to please?

The trouble with being too nice all the time is that you can't be yourself any of the time.

Why does a person feel the need to please?

Some of the reasons are, to gain acceptance, to feel loved to be valued, to feel secure and have a sense of belonging.

From a young age I was clearly aware I wasn’t good enough and had it drummed into me that I was stupid and useless. I grew up desperate for approval and acceptance, believing that I had to earn it.  Sometimes these experiences, this compulsion, this mind-set of earning love and acceptance can
become impossible to stop.

Do you strive for perfection? Do you try and do what is right? Do you never give offence? Do you
suppress anger? Are you hard working? Do have a problem saying no?

Such a compulsion can have serious physical and emotional consequences. Are you tired of trying to please? Does criticism cripple you?

I was afraid that if people didn't need or like me, I'd be expelled to the dark abyss of loneliness and be the subject of their gossip. I was afraid of rejection!!

I have discovered that not everyone is going to like you, and that’s not YOUR fault, it’s just life. When God’s love and acceptance flooded into my life, I received and experienced His forgiveness; I knew I was loved, accepted and free. I am now free to be me.

The Bible says;  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8 v36.

Would YOU like to be free, so you can be yourself?  God doesn't NEED us to work for His love & acceptance. We can’t EARN His love (it's already been bought). It’s from having
faith in Jesus.  God paid the price by sending His son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so you could have the freedom to be YOU. He loves YOU.

The Bible says; "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8v 32

Don’t say ‘Yes’ when you mean ‘No’.... You can do it!!

You are Loved, Special and Worth it!!!