Breaking Free from People-Pleasing How to Stand in Your Power Welcome,
I'm Mikael Patrick-Bovines,
And let's take a few moments together to explore a powerful shift,
One that frees you from the grip of people-pleasing and leads you back into your own inner power.
Many of us learned early in life to put other people's needs ahead of our own.
Maybe it started in our childhood,
Seeking approval,
Avoiding conflict,
Wanting to be validated,
Or simply just trying to keep the peace.
Over time,
This pattern can quietly take root and become a habit of self-abandonment,
Putting other people's needs ahead of your own in order to be safe.
You begin to shape your choices around other people's expectations rather than your own inner truth.
It may feel like the kind or the right or proper thing to do,
But the cost is often your own self-esteem.
The first step in breaking free is simply the awareness.
When you begin to notice how much of your energy is spent managing other people's perceptions about you,
You open the door to change.
You begin to remember that your worth doesn't come from how useful,
Agreeable,
Or accommodating you are.
It comes from within.
Confidence doesn't mean being loud or forceful or demanding.
It's a quiet inner knowing and a deep sense that your needs matter,
Your voice matters,
You matter.
And one of the most courageous acts of self-love is learning to set boundaries.
At first it might feel uncomfortable,
But boundaries aren't walls,
They're bridges.
Ways of honoring yourself while still maintaining compassionate connection with others.
Every time you clearly express your boundaries,
You affirm your right to exist fully and safely in your life.
You are the author and authority of your life,
And you say,
I am here,
I count,
And my well-being matters too.
And I'm going to support myself and others,
Not the other way around.
This journey isn't about perfection,
It's about liberation.
And it's about being conscious and aware of when you give your power away to others.
We all like outside validation,
It feels good when people applaud us or tell us that we're doing good.
There's nothing wrong with outside validation.
However,
If we use it as a source of self-esteem,
Then it becomes limiting.
Because first of all,
It's not self-generated,
It's generated by other people.
So it's not true self-esteem,
It's false esteem.
And we give our power away,
We feel good about ourselves when people applaud us,
And we don't feel good about ourselves when they don't agree.
And that's a shame,
Because you have taken yourself out of the equation.
As you can stand on your own side,
Forgive yourself for the past,
And start to acknowledge and value yourself,
You'll return to living with integrity and authenticity.
When you stop molding yourself to fit others and start standing in your truth,
Something beautiful happens.
Your life begins to reflect who you really are,
Not who you think you need to be for others.
And from that place,
Your authenticity and your power expands,
Relationships deepen,
Your personal energy is revitalized,
And life starts to feel like your own once again.
So take a deep breath in,
Trust yourself,
Forgive the past,
For you are allowed to stop pleasing others,
And it starts by honoring you.
