When you feel like you have to please others
As humans, we are wired for connection. We’re wired to be social, to care, and to think of others before we speak, act, or respond. This comes from a place of genuine humanity and connection — it’s part of what makes us who we are.
But sometimes, we begin putting others first in ways that slowly pull us away from ourselves. We listen to others more than we listen to our own needs. We show up for everyone else, and somewhere along the way, our sense of self becomes quieter, smaller, or harder to find.
We start doing things for others, being there for others, and forgetting about ourselves. And this is where connection with others can actually make us lose connection with ourselves — and then we feel less connected to others anyway. At the core, the deepest, most meaningful relationships come from being connected to yourself first. When you see yourself, respect yourself, and value yourself, others can do the same. What happens within is reflected on the outside.
Without connection to yourself, these areas can’t grow in the way you want them to. You stay stuck in patterns that keep repeating.