I was driving home the other day and I saw a sign on the side of the road that said, "Do More of What Makes YOU Happy." It really made me think about different things that I do on a day-to-day basis. Am I really doing things that make me happy? Am I living for myself and not trying to please someone else? When I was truly honest with myself I found that the answer was no.
I am one of those people who have a very hard time saying no to people. I struggle with standing up for myself, and I am easily manipulated because of this. Most of the people in my life know these things about me. One half of these people try to help me with these issues and encourage me to do what makes me happy. The other half uses this setback against me to their own advantage. After I realized this was happening in my life I realized something very important, I cannot please everyone.
In the back of my head I have known that there is absolutely no way that I can please everyone, but that didn't stop me from trying. I used to lose sleep worrying about how I was going to complete all these tasks people were asking me to do. I would obsess over what someone would think if I didn't do what they wanted me to do. It took a lot of conversations with close friends and my parents to realize something even more important, I cannot please everyone and that's OK.
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." - Bill Cosby
Since I have realized this, I feel relief. I have found out who my true friends are, and who just takes advantage of me. I make time for myself. Realistically there will be days that all you have is you, so why not make you happy. Some people see this as being selfish, but those are the people you need to stay away from. Anyone that tries to tear you down for focusing on yourself and doing things for yourself are not people you need in life. You should never have to feel guilty about telling someone no. You should never feel obligated to do something for someone who you truly owe nothing to.
Of course I will still lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it. I have not completely taken that part of my life away. I have just learned that I do not have to do something unless I truly want to do it. I do things now that make me happy instead of everyone else around me. I live for myself. I do not feel bad about it, and I do not think it's selfish. You can't make anyone else happy unless you can make yourself happy.
So do what makes you truly happy and if someone has a problem with it, you just can't please everyone. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
