You Will NEVER Make Everyone Happy

And you shouldn't try to. After all, you’ve only got one life, and it’s yours to live.

I’ve suffered from perfectionism and people-pleasing. I still do.

I thought I was doing better until I almost broke up with my boyfriend a while back by taking someone else’s word for what I should choose.

I don’t believe this person had bad intentions.

I genuinely believe they want what’s best for me. But ultimately, that person doesn’t live my life, nor can she take responsibility for my future.

I forgot that for a moment.

Going through this experience has taught me that I am not responsible for other people's feelings regarding my personal choices.

If I’m making a decision I believe in, and it only affects me, why do I have to be so concerned with someone else’s reaction?

Why do I have to make choices that will make other people feel comfortable? Shouldn’t how I feel come first?

I’m the type of person who dislikes and avoids conflict. This is a helpful trait when you know someone wants to argue about nonsense.

But it backfires when you disregard disrespectful and sometimes dangerous behavior out of fear of conflict.

I’ve done this many times in the past.

Rather than bring up the issue, I will let it go because I would rather move on as quickly as possible without engaging in uncomfortable conversations.

That’s not healthy. Avoidance is not a solution for everything.

Unfortunately, this attitude has indirectly told people they can do or say whatever they want to me.

Since I look fine and dandy on the outside, the same must be happening inside, right?

I’ve let my comfort take a back seat out of fear of making another person upset, and I’m so tired of doing this.

In the past, I derived my self-esteem from the approval of others and became so agreeable that I had no real opinion of my own.

I believed everyone would like me if I agreed with whatever was said. It turns out that even when you do this, people don’t like you.

And that’s okay. No one is meant to be everyone’s cup of tea.

A few years ago, I decided to take my life into my own hands and change for the better. To stop putting other people’s needs before my own.

It’s easier said than done because I fall back into old patterns and don’t realize it’s happening. I have to be snapped back to my commitment to putting myself first.

I encourage you to do the same. Allow yourself room to grow, and choose what you want.

Disregard people’s opinions about what you should do when you believe in something. If you truly believe in it, that’s enough.

That’s all you need to go ahead and give it a chance.

Things may or may not work out. But as long as you keep taking chances, making mistakes, and learning from them, you will eventually get to the place you’ve been striving to reach.

No one lived a wonderful life by constantly making comfortable choices.

The truth is we need to get uncomfortable and often make others uncomfortable.

To live a life we’re proud of and genuinely happy with, we have to make decisions not everyone will agree with.

We must pursue paths and opportunities that others may see as wasting time.

We need to live life on our own terms. Otherwise, we will grow resentful of those we listened to. We will blame others for our decisions because we chose to listen to another voice instead of our own.

I wanted to write this as a friendly reminder that our lives and our futures are no one’s responsibility but our own.

We have to stop giving that power away to others.

So go ahead and say yes to that crazy opportunity you believe in, but no one else does.

Change careers because you know it’s the right move for you, even when everyone around you tells you that you should be happy with what you have.

Don’t let their fears get in the way of making a decision you know is right for you and your future.

Let them be afraid and stay in their comfort zones.

You’ve got this, keep going.