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Breaking Free from People-Pleasing: My Journey to Authenticity

For years, I didn’t even realize I was a people-pleaser. It wasn’t until I began my healing journey that I truly saw how much of my life had been spent doing things to make others happy, without ever stopping to ask myself if that’s what I really wanted. This cycle of living for everyone else started early in my life, and it became so ingrained that I didn’t even recognize how it was affecting me. But once I did, everything changed.

I realized that people-pleasing is sneaky—it convinces you that you’re doing the right thing by always putting others first, but in reality, it leaves you feeling lost, drained, and disconnected from your own needs. I thought I had to be perfect for my family, to meet their expectations and everyone else's, but I forgot the most important thing: I need to live for me.

In my latest blog post, I dive into my personal journey of breaking free from people-pleasing, the lessons I’ve learned along the way, and how you can begin your own path to authenticity. If you’re tired of living for others, it’s time to make a change. You deserve to put yourself first, and I’m here to show you how.

In my 20s, I did everything I was “supposed” to do—built my career, took care of my family, checked all the boxes. On the outside, I looked successful. But inside, I felt like I was always running, never feeling like I had done enough. As a high-achieving Black woman, I had learned to push through exhaustion, to keep going no matter what. I didn’t realize that my anxiety and depression weren’t showing up in the ways I had been taught to recognize.

High-functioning anxiety and depression can look like staying busy to avoid emotions, overworking to prove your worth, or constantly worrying about others’ opinions. Many of us have been conditioned to believe that rest is a luxury, that asking for help is weakness, and that we must always be strong. But what happens when that strength becomes exhausting?

In this series, I’m unpacking the unique struggles that high-functioning Black women face in relationships, family life, careers, and friendships. It’s time to release the weight of perfection and embrace the reality that we deserve more than just survival—we deserve joy, rest, and healing.

Read the full blog and start your journey toward balance and peace. [New post every Wednesday at 10:00 AM CST.]