Last Updated on March 7, 2022 by Shane Corbitt
Being kind to others is an important part of being a human being, unless, of course, that kindness goes too far. When this caring nature turns into people-pleasing, it becomes detrimental to your well-being.
It is important to keep in mind that while helping others is a good thing, doing it at a personal cost to you or your family is not. There are several important reasons why breaking the people-pleasing habit can be good for you.
Stress and Anxiety
When you are constantly trying to please others, it tends to take a hit on your mental well-being in various ways. At times, you can feel so stressed because either you said yes to something you really did not want to do or because you said “no,” maybe for the first time.
Being under a constant state of stress and anxiety is not good for your mental or physical health and can lead to more severe side effects. Too much stress can lead to illness and/or other diseases.
Breaking the people-pleasing habit can free you from the anxiety you are under and allow you to focus on your own needs.
Better Life Balance
Typically, if you are a people pleaser, you may have a hard time thinking about anything or anyone except those that need your help. It is in times like these that your life balance begins to falter.
Remember that it is not humanly possible to provide everything for everyone. A people pleaser feels a certain responsibility to try to do just that while also taking care of themselves.
Breaking this habit can provide you with more balance in your life for the most important things, such as yourself and your family.
Less Self-Neglect
Because people-pleasers have a tendency to put others before themselves, self-care can be put on the back burner. This includes not only their mental health but also physical and emotional health.
When you spend all of your time helping others, you typically do not have time to make sure you are okay. Keep in mind the words of flight attendants during their preflight speech when they remind you to put on your own oxygen mask before you attempt to help others. If you do not take care of yourself, you will not be good to anyone else.
Breaking the habit of pleasing others will allow you the time and energy to focus on your health and well-being.
At the end of the day, knowing that people-pleasing can be an unhealthy habit if you let it go too far. Understanding the importance of breaking that habit is vital to becoming healthier and more productive.
