People pleasing is a common stress response to help us feel calmer and in control

We people pleasers have superpowers in empathy, reading the room, anticipating problems and creating calm around us. Yet in overdrive these behaviours mean we frequently prioritise other people over ourselves for fear of not being liked. 

By doing this it means our sense of self is derived from people’s views, or expectations of us, rather than how we see ourselves. These tendencies can lead us to feel frustrated, resentful and fatigued because we struggle to set boundaries with others. Yet we often wait for people to change to improve the situation, or the relationship dynamic.

We CAN shift the way we think, feel and behave using psychological, evidence-based strategies to stop being a ‘yes’ person. As a recovering people pleaser, Rebecca understands first hand what it is like to seek the approval of others, play small, try to fit in and not be her true self. After having breast cancer she decided to build a stronger sense of life and live her life her way, rather than being driven by pleasing others.