5 Ways People-Pleasing Teaches You to Take on Responsibilities That Aren't Yours

How People-Pleasing Makes You Take on Hidden Responsibilities—And What It’s Costing You

We grow up learning a lot about ourselves and our role in the world, but some lessons aren’t helpful. For people-pleasers, one of those lessons is the belief that they’re responsible for others' feelings, outcomes, and well-being. It’s like a weight they’ve carried for years without ever questioning it.

I know this weight well; I, too, was taught that my role was to make things “easier” for others, even if it meant ignoring my own needs. Today, let’s look at five specific ways people-pleasing makes us take on responsibilities that are actually outside our control and how releasing them can lead to a life that’s truly ours.

Sometimes, a quiet walk at dusk is a reminder of how much I need moments that are just for me. It’s in these pauses that I can let go of what isn’t mine to carry. Here’s to leaving behind what no longer serves us, one step at a time.