How do I stop people-pleasing?

putting others first is an exhausting pattern where you constantly prioritize others' needs and comfort over your own, often at great personal cost. This behavior usually develops from early experiences where love felt conditional on being 'good' or helpful, leading you to believe that your worth depends on making others happy. You might find yourself saying yes to requests you don't want to fulfill, avoiding conflict even when you disagree, or constantly worrying about whether people like you. The irony is that pleasing others often backfires - others may take advantage of your inability to say no, or they might lose respect for someone who never stands up for themselves. Breaking free from putting others first starts with recognizing that you can't control whether people like you, and trying to do so is exhausting and ultimately futile. Practice saying no to small requests first to build your confidence. You don't need to justify or over-explain your Personal boundaries - 'I can't do that' is a complete sentence. Notice the difference between genuine kindness and putting others first - kindness comes from a place of choice and abundance, while people-pleasing comes from fear and desperation. Work on building your self-worth independent of others' opinions. Remember that healthy Interpersonal relationship require both people to be authentic, which means sometimes disappointing each other. People who truly care about you will respect your Personal boundaries and want you to take care of yourself.