22/05/2025
The strategies we developed as children were so adaptive and show us just how wise our systems were that we knew how to survive and stay connected. As adults, these strategies often do not serve us in the same way anymore but it can be empowering to be able to use the skills that come with the strategy in a more conscious and intentional way, without sacrificing one's own needs.
ℹ️🌿 PEOPLE-PLEASING AS A SURVIVAL STRATEGY: A RELATIONAL REFRAME |
"People-pleasing" is often spoken about like it’s a flaw – something to correct, unlearn, or pathologize. But in my work – and my heart – I see something else entirely.
I see people-pleasing as a wise, embodied survival strategy, not a character flaw. It is often formed early in life, in response to uncertain connection, unmet emotional needs, or the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) cost of not feeling like we are “easy” to love.
At its root, people-pleasing is a longing to belong. A yearning for safety, for closeness, for a continued relationship.
Read the Full Article: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/articles/people-pleasing-as-a-survival-strategy-a-relational-reframe
📷: chadwellness