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When do i get to stop making everyone else happy?

Profile: graciouskitten
graciouskitten on Jun 29, 2015
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When you stop being a people pleaser.. I used to try to make others happy and dodge their displeasure at the cost of my own happiness. With this mentality, I created a world in which I placed my well-being in the hands of others for them to crumple like a piece of paper. realize, now that my people pleasing tactics were really a veiled attempt to sway others’ judgement of and reciprocation to me. While compassion and generosity are generally positive attributes, I gave from a place of insecurity, low self esteem, and a sense of lack, unknowingly, in an attempt to bolster my feelings about myself. That’s giving to get which is taking in the end. Like an unspoken insurance policy, I thought that the more I contributed to others, surely, the more they would give back to me. Right? Wrong! I attracted people in my life who were more than happy to take and take and keep on taking, and I ended up depleted, resentful, and empty. This is a perfect example of life reflecting back to me a part of myself that I refused to acknowledge. I didn’t love or respect myself and allowed people to treat me the same. The flip side of people pleasing is resentment and hostility. Even if people did respond graciously to my efforts, I couldn’t allow myself to genuinely receive their kindness and, instead, stockpiled animosity. Because I didn’t like myself, I was numb to most consideration that did come my way. Compliments slid off of me. In order to keep up the pleasant, people-pleasing front, the bitterness I felt got buried until it erupted in angry outbursts or came out passive aggressively. I’m not a people pleaser anymore, and, in fact, I’d bet that some would say I’ve gone too far in the other direction and gotten too comfortable saying “No.” In every situation, there is always a caring way to respond considering what is being asked of me while factoring in my own needs, happiness, and wisdom from my head, heart, and gut. The response doesn’t have to be “yes” or “no,” and is usually something in between.
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Profile: Here4You777
Here4You777 on Jun 16, 2016
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When you realize it's you putting that pressure on yourself. You may have these notions in your head that if you don't do this for this person than this terrible thing will happen, but just realizing that people are responsible for their own happiness might help you end your quest to provide that for everyone and start doing things for you. You have to remember you matter just as much as they do. You can't go through life living to please others.. You have got to take care of YOU first.
Profile: peterc
peterc on Jul 15, 2017
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If someone expects you to make them happy and you buy into it, then both of you become trapped in a cycle of dependency. The truth is, you cannot own what is not yours. You cannot live someone’s life for them, and you cannot own their feelings for them. It is hard, but when people learn to take responsibility for how they feel, it can be hugely liberating. A better gift is to be ‘with’ the other person, hold space for them, and be compassionate. Trust that they can navigate their own life. A poet named Henley once wrote: “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.” Two boats beating against the current is so much better than one endlessly towing the other! Trust.
Profile: SarahJeanne17
SarahJeanne17 on Apr 14, 2018
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The moment you realize that's not why we are here. People do not exist to make others happy. We exist to make ourselves happy. Sure, it's great to make your parents, siblings, and other family and friends proud. But ultimately, you need to do what's best for you. At the end of the day, you're the one that has to live with yourself. You and no one else.
Profile: Brittneym101
Brittneym101 on Oct 4, 2015
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That's a choice that only you can make. There is nothing wrong with putting yourself first every once in awhile. It's ok to be selfish sometimes. It's a good thing that you are able to make others happy, but it can also be stressful. People take advantage of that a lot. Don't forget about you!!
Profile: GentleMom
GentleMom on Jan 20, 2015
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Whenever you choose to do so...remembering that everyone is responsible for their own happiness. Things happen but it's our reaction to them that creates the feelings of happiness or unhappiness.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Jun 22, 2015
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You get to stop making everyone else happy when you decide to. Live for yourself and your own happiness. If the people in your life aren't happy after that, you should reconsider why they are in your life in the first place.
Profile: helpfulocean33
helpfulocean33 on Jun 5, 2016
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When you decide to take time for yourself. Start being selfish if you need to your happiness is just as important as everyone else's.
Profile: LifeAddict1
LifeAddict1 on Jun 7, 2016
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When I ask myself and get an answer to, how can they be happy when I am not? Who makes me happy? Can I still make them happy even when there is no reciprocation?
Profile: tinyCat07
tinyCat07 on Jun 15, 2016
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When you realise that you are the one who you have to make happy. Putting yourself first, not anyone else is extremely important.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Oct 27, 2018
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The simple answer: whenever you stop. The reality: never, assuming no abuse is happening. You always have to make another person happy, your parent(s) (or other people in charge of you,) your boss, or significant other. You can't skate on by without making others happy. The question is: when do you get to focus on yourself? You have to do what makes you happy. Example: Say your sister is having a rough time at work and so are you, but she needs to talk about it. It is ALWAYS about her. Let her talk and THEN CALMLY tell her, 'do you realize you always talk about yourself. You never let me talk about whats going on in my life.' Your happy because you got to tell her how she is treating you. Yet you still did a good thing.
Profile: gentleJoy57
gentleJoy57 on Nov 10, 2018
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When you decide to love yourself and realise that you are your number one priority. This is the most important thing in life, to put yourself first. It’s the key to happiness. You have to be happy yourself before you can even focus on making anyone else happy because you need yourself to be healthy enough to even help anyone else. You get to stop making everyone else happy when you decide to, you can do it right now. Shift your focus from them to yourself. Believe me when I say that your happiness is the best and most important thing in your life. It’s the best thing you can ever have and a lot of us don’t have it these days because we don’t realise that we have to take time to care for ourselves. We get caught up in everyone else around us because this world is a social one and humans are social creatures that tend to lack self care, self love and self happiness. Make a change now, look after yourself before you look after others
Profile: Euphoricstar2005
Euphoricstar2005 on Dec 24, 2020
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Right now dear! Your first priority is you , and you don't have a duty to make everyone happy . Just remember we are not capable of making others happy it depends on them all we can do is be kind to them and don't hurt yourself cuz of others . You are as important as they are so never think less of yourself it's okay to be selfish at times and to think about yourself but don't intentionally hurt someone . Always be kind to others and yourself in this world the only person who stays with us is 'us' . So love yourself and be proud of yourself ❣️ .
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Ask yourself ,what makes you question yourself to stop making everyone else happy ? Then think of your answer, maybe write it down somewhere ? Re read and re think again, remind yourself why is it important for yourself to keep yourself first and not go to extra miles to make everyone happy, as that really isn't your job and can be so draining to keep upbeat with everyone else's moods . And then you got your answer,NOW is the time, you gotta stop doing things that affect you ,make you feel used, and make you feel not happy! ❤
Profile: kindheartedSky78
kindheartedSky78 on Apr 12, 2015
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Can you tell me a little bit more about the way in which you are making others happy? It would be important to find out why it is you find it important to make others happy
Profile: mad22
mad22 on May 23, 2015
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It starts happening when you just start feeling you self as happy. One great personality has said that "There is only one place where persona can make the change & i.e. in his/her on self ". Just don't try to change any one start accepting each person as it as, as they are. You cannot make happy to every single person but you can yourself & if you are happy then all people around you will also feel happy.
Profile: contentedKitty23
contentedKitty23 on Jul 20, 2015
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Right now. You can't make everyone happy. And even if you could, you didn't have to. Because you deserve to be happy too. Try to let go of what is out of your control and focus on your own happiness.
Profile: ClaireyMarie
ClaireyMarie on Jul 20, 2015
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When you decide that your happiness is just as important as theirs, if not more. Be there for you first.
Profile: Anonymous
Anonymous on Oct 11, 2015
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Honestly, you don't. Your whole life is based on how you treat others. As long as their idea of happiness isn't damaging to you or anyone else, you should do what you can to fulfill it. Not trying to call you selfish. It's just a thought.
Profile: wandererxo
wandererxo on Dec 7, 2015
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When you start putting yourself 2nd place. Making people happy is a good thing, as long as you remember to keep yourself happy :) x
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