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Journaling prompts: removing the responsibility of people pleasing


Each month I host a free 'Journaling for well-being' workshop. It's 30 minutes of support and inspiration for your journaling practice. We focus on two techniques:


1 - Wild writing, a free-style journaling method.

2 - Utilising guided prompts around a particular theme.


The theme for the session was 'removing the responsibility of people pleasing'.


You know that feeling when you say ‘yes' to something, even though you really want to say 'no’? Or when you go out of your way to make others happy, sometimes at your own expense? If you say yes to these, you may also resonate with people-pleasing - something so many of us experience.


It is tricky because on the surface, it feels good to help others and be seen as reliable or kind or generous. But when it starts to drain us, cause stress, or make us feel resentful, it's a sign that we might need to rethink how much we're giving and set some clearer boundaries (boundaries with ourselves even).


Brené Brown, a well-respected author, researcher, and professor often speaks about the importance of boundaries. She states that one of the most surprising discoveries she has found in her over 13 years of research is that ‘the most compassionate people are also the most boundaries.’


Emma Reed-Turrell, author of ‘Please Yourself' shares that working on overcoming people pleasing does not mean not caring. Instead it means being able to care better.

This month (in the journaling workshop), we explored this theme and I offered these journaling prompts to delve into.


  • When was the last time you agreed to something you didn’t really want to do?

  • What beliefs do you hold about yourself that fuel your need to please others?

  • What could some alternative beliefs be?

  • What situations or people are most likely to trigger your people-pleasing tendencies?

  • How could you prepare yourself to respond differently next time?

  • Think of a time when you successfully put your own needs first. How did this feel?


I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Have you found yourself in people-pleasing mode lately? How do you find balance?



Next month, my free journaling workshop takes place on 2nd December and is focused on the theme of confident decision making. You can register here.


Alternatively, you can download my free journaling toolkit to get your started.



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