People Pleasers

My super special guest blogger today probably needs no introduction as she has become one of the most popular and loved Extreme Weight Loss Season 3 transformations so far this year! And lately, she has also been seen gracing our Facebook , Twitter?and Instagram accounts with her recent visit to see us! As a dear, sweet friend, I love her authenticity, honesty, helpfulness to others and her willingness to be real. You know you matter when she is near you. In fact, she calls her followers “Matterers.” I love it! And as you come to know her, you’ll love her just as much as I do:-). ?So, after she takes us on a journey of understanding “People Pleasers,” I know you’ll want to become a Matterer yourself! I’ve included all the ways to connect with her below…

Celebrity Trainer Heidi Powell and Jami Witherell from Extreme Wight Loss - Learn more at https://heidipowell.net/2969

People Pleasers
by Jami Witherell

Super stoked to be visiting Heidipowell.net (Especially after just recently visiting Heidi and Chris in real life!)?Blogging over at We Matter, ?I try to create a forum of honesty, growth, reality, change, and a little humor.

And that includes talking about some of the uncomfortable stuff:
I talk about how sometimes my thinks get so stuck.
And I work tirelessly to not let them get in the way of living.
And just enjoy the ride.

Celebrity Trainers Chris and Heidi Powell and Jami Witherell from Extreme Wight Loss - Learn more at https://heidipowell.net/2969

But one of my favorite topics is: My Issues with People Pleasing.

I used to ? and on (many) occasions ? still do ? get my ?high? or my ?happiness? from pleasing others ? before taking care of myself.

It?s not really rational ? but it?s how I learned to cope with the world around me.
Having a bad day?
Well, let me get an A in the class and you won?t be sad.
Mad at a friend?
Well, let me bake you a cake, come over for a few hours, build you up, and then you won?t be mad.
And if I don?t get an A, or can?t make it over with a cake, you?ll hear me apologize 1,000 times. Because I?ve let you down or upset you in some way.

But my people pleasing is even preemptive.
I work relentlessly to be one step ahead of your emotions.

I weigh my options carefully.
If I do this, they might think I don?t care, but I DO, so I should do that instead, and then they?ll have to know I care.

Or that I?m perfect.
Which is really where this all stems from.
Right?

Jami Witherell from Extreme Wight Loss - Learn more at https://heidipowell.net/2969

If I?m just perfect enough.
If I do everything you need me to.
You?ll be happy.
Not matter what the cost to me.

And for that matter, if you?ll be happy ? I?ll be happy.
The problem is:
Really,
I?m not in control of anyone else?s emotions ? but mine.
And if you ask me to meet you for dinner and I?m booked 17 ways until Sunday, but I could make it for 10 minutes, if I leave another engagement early, I?ll do it. Because that will make you happy, right? And it will make me happy (and more importantly ? I don?t have to feel guilty or bad or wonder if I hurt your feelings if I say no.)

But the challenge I?ve had to accept is:
I could do all of that and you might be happy?

Or sad.
Or disappointed.

And you might think I?m perfect or not.
And I?m not in control of how you receive that ?people pleasing?.

Relinquishing the ability to control others emotions, my ability to people please, was the single greatest challenge this year.

But at the root ? it?s what had been keeping me alive all these years.
Living for others.
Living to please others.
And I worried all year that if I STOPPED, cold turkey, pleasing others, I?d have no reason to live (well there?s a crazy think!)

Jami Witherell from Extreme Wight Loss - Learn more at https://heidipowell.net/2969

But not ANYMORE.
I am certainly still a work in progress.
Can I get an AMEN!?

I try to go inside myself ? first.
And not let my knee jerk reaction kick in ? and do the first thing I think will make you happy.

I try to converse with my inner self.
And sometimes I?m more successful than others.
Some people I?m more successful with than others.
But when I get it ?right?, when I tell myself, ?You?re not in control of what they think when you say no, or maybe not today, or not right now. You?re not.?

In those small conversations inside myself, I glimpse the beginning of what MY light can do.
It can be strong.
And independent.
And powerful.
And it can be so full, my light, that I can give to others, without the worry about how it will make them feel, or view me.

Jami Witherell from Extreme Wight Loss - Learn more at https://heidipowell.net/2969

This is specifically challenging for me as I return to the service field as an elementary school teacher. There are a lot of people to please there ? from students and colleagues to staff and administration ? but I will do my best to put my OWN best interest at heart ? first.

One other morsel, is something I read in a A Course of Miracles:

?Giving of yourself to the point of sacrifice makes the other person a thief!?

And I don?t want anyone in my life to FEEL like they?re taking something from me.
When I?ve been giving it freely all along.
And hoping it makes them happy.

Take care of yourself first.
MAKE YOU HAPPY.
That?s SELF FULL not selfish.

I always ask my Matterers ? what about YOU?
Are you people pleasers, too?
You can comment here and come join the conversation over at We Matter.
(Because YOU do!)

Celebrity Trainer Heidi Powell and Jami Witherell from Extreme Wight Loss - Learn more at https://heidipowell.net/2969Want to connect with Jami and join her Matterers? Find and follow her here:
website: ?www.jamiwitherell.com
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26 Responses

  1. After the morning Ive had, I needed this. Ive always been a people pleaser. I was always teased growing up and as a young adult found myself in relationships that revolved around me pleasing that other person just to keep him around. That never works! The most important thing ever said to me and something Ive forgotten, is to love yourself and make yourself happy before you do for someone else. If youre not happy, how can you make someone else feel happy? You cant.

  2. This has always been a big problem with me. I now am a mom of three special needs kids. So its expanded over the years. I’ve been trying had the last year to put myself first sometimes. Its easier during the school year since I’m a stay at him mom and my kids take a lot of care and attention. I’m a pleaser with friends and family to. Never feel good enough for anyone unless I do everything. Guess. I still need to work on these things. Baby steps I guess.

  3. Its nice to know I’m not the only people pleaser out there! Can I ask how you stopped and started putting yourself first? This is probably my biggest problem…I will give up anything that has to do with me if it helps another.

  4. So so needed this today! Thank you for making this come full circle! I’ve always tried to please everyone before pleasing myself and it can be a roller coaster at times. I’m just beginning my journey but the one thing I’ve learned is that I have to love myself and make myself happy…no one can do that for me. So very thankful for your inspiration…I hope you realize how much of a wonderful role model you are. We are proud to “matterers”! =)

  5. Such an awesome post! I think there are many people out there that struggle with being people pleasers. But there comes a point where you are just exhausted and left wondering if you running around 10 minutes here 30 minutes is really spending quality time with the people you are trying to please – does that even leave you satisified? Nobody has that kind of time to dedicate to everybody’s elses affairs or that kind of money, because let me tell you what…it costs – gas money, a small $10 gift here and there, food/drinks. So, you are left exhausted, broke, and not sticking to your health goals. It’s a very tricky thing to break out of, but it is very possible.

  6. This is so me! The way this really clicked with me was when I overheard someone describe their feelings when someone had offered to help, but was really to overbooked. She had said it made he feel like she wasn’t important, that she was just being squeezed in and the person she was trying to connect with wasn’t emotionally there, because she was trying to prepare for her next item on her to-do list. This is definitely not something that I’m trying to do when investing time in someone, so now I try to make sure that I’m “all there” before I invest in someone else.

  7. I have done this my whole life to the point where I am afraid of how others, even loved ones, would react if I ever disappointed them in any way. By either not calling every day, or meeting with them on occasions, and even not living up to their expectations. I am learning each day to think opposite of that because that fear cannot rule my life. Your blog has helped me with my rethinking and to accept that it is okay to think and act on what makes me happy as well. You are an inspiration!

  8. Wow! That one is close to home. I have been working on ME for about two years now. This was the hardest lesson for me to learn. Like Jamie I am still a work in progress. I’ve gotten better but I remember the first time I told someone “No, I can’t make it.” They were truly shocked. The next thing they did surprised me even more. They told me it was time I finally took care of myself. It was my turn to be shocked. They didn’t get mad. They didn’t stop being my friend. They actually respected me more. I have learned that a no said with conviction is better than a yes said half heartedly.

  9. This is exactly what my therapist and I have been working on for the past 4 months! PEOPLE-PLEASING! I am thoroughly convinced that this is an issue many people struggle with. So grateful that you took the time to shine a light on this struggle. You’re awesome.

    – A matterer

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