Discover how to break free from the cycle of people pleasing. Learn to set healthy boundaries, prioritize your needs, and build self-confidence. Explore tips, strategies, and personal stories to help you stop seeking approval and start living authentically.
So you’ve done something you feel guilty about… You missed a deadline. Snapped at someone you love. Said yes when you meant no—again. It’s a small moment, and on the surface, it might not seem like a big deal. But hours later, it’s still echoing in your mind. You feel that familiar tug of guilt….
Let’s be honest—“starting over at 50” sounds like something out of a self-help memoir or a movie montage set to an uplifting piano track. Cue the haircut, the spontaneous road trip, maybe a fling with someone who rides a motorbike and doesn’t believe in email. But real life? Real life is messier. Quieter. Braver, in…
In this post, we’ll explore how to put yourself first—gently, without guilt, and in ways that feel true to who you are today. Both of my daughters recently became mothers. I’ve watched their lives shift almost overnight—every thought, every heartbeat now revolving around these tiny creatures who depend on them completely. It’s beautiful. And familiar….
I recently had a blog published on Tiny Buddha—a moment I felt quietly proud of. But that sense of pride quickly unraveled when I read a couple of negative comments under the post. My heart sank. A kind of panic set in. Oh no. I’ve annoyed these people. They’re mad at me. I’ve disappointed them….
You know that moment when you say “yes” before you even think—and immediately feel the knot in your stomach? That quiet tug that says, “I didn’t really want to do that.” That’s people pleasing. And it’s more than just being nice. It’s a deeply wired pattern, often learned young—praised for being easy, helpful, agreeable. Over…
Have you ever had a thought like, “I can’t do that, I’m not qualified enough,” or “If I say no, they’ll be upset with me”? If so—you’re not alone. We all carry invisible scripts in our minds. Some of them push us forward. But many quietly hold us back. These scripts are called beliefs—and the…
Ever feel like you’re stuck in quicksand while the rest of the world just keeps moving? That was me recently. I couldn’t bring myself to write my blog. I avoided the gym. I didn’t even want to ride my horse. And that’s saying something—because riding usually lights me up. But everything felt like a massive…
So, you are finally ready to give up people pleasing. What’s next? When you stop people pleasing, everything changes. It’s like stepping off a treadmill you didn’t realize you were on. At first, it might feel strange. You might even feel guilty for saying no or putting your own needs first. I know because I’ve…
Growing up in Ireland, I was raised on two things: potatoes and cynicism. The idea of “new year affirmations” was about as appealing to me as eating a raw spud. Affirmations, I thought, were airy-fairy nonsense for people who didn’t live in the real world. They seemed like wishful thinking at best. Then I met…
As the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Or is it? For many of us, the holiday season feels more like a marathon than a celebration. We’re surrounded by images of happy families, perfect gifts, and sparkling homes. Social media makes it seem like everyone else has it all figured out….
