People Pleasing Has Little to Do with Keeping Others Happy

People-pleasing is an external attempt to prove your worthiness to another person. It may be hard for you to believe you are worthy, just as you are. We may consciously think “I don’t want to let this person down” or “If I say no, they will be mad, upset, disappointed, etc.” Because the idea was planted somewhere of “I’m not worthy” or “I am only worthy when I do xyz,” self-sabotage sets in to confirm these beliefs.