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Luiza B. Campos's avatar

A lot of times while I'm writing and making strong point I feel like apologising for ranting, and I usually do. I guess there's also something misogynistic there. We don't usually like opinionated and grumpy women. So we tend to hide this traits as best as we can.

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Satya Robyn's avatar

Thanks for bringing up this important point Luiza. Agree - this is SO gendered... as women we (mostly - can't speak for all women!) have to work much harder at owning these parts of ourselves without needing to hide them/apologise for them. It's tough! But hopefully important to have these conversations, and I hope you keep writing opinionated pieces :)

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Satya Robyn's avatar

(even the word opinionated has a judgement in it.... STRONG pieces!)

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Priya Iyer's avatar

As I get older I am looking for the line I can straddle between not indulging my people pleasing parts yet doing things for others that I want to do (which I know will please them). Does that makes sense?

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Satya Robyn's avatar

Makes PERFECT sense. I'm not sure how it is for you Priya but I find that the more I honour my actual limitations, the more 'natural' giving I'm able to do - just because I have something I think might make someone happy, but without any expectations in return... In IFS terms, giving from Self rather than from a people pleasing part, and so with no agenda and no (or little) 'cost' to me. Thanks for sharing!

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Jeanne Malmgren's avatar

Another great one, Satya. And that you managed to spin this out whilst on holiday ... all the more impressive! (And I say this not to stroke your people-pleasing parts; I say it because it's true.) I had a grumpy day last week, and I kept it to myself. Maybe next time, emboldened/encouraged by your post, I won't keep it to myself!

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Satya Robyn's avatar

In the service of full disclosure, I did write most of this before I came away 😉 (thank you)

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Matt Cardin's avatar

This is a winningly authentic post. Thank you, Satya.

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Satya Robyn's avatar

🙏🏻 (not sure I can take much credit as confession/radical honesty is one of the things I like to do! feels (mostly) good!)

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Mike Mather's avatar

Humiliation stops me from being me. Sometime in my past, I have been so embarrassed that it seems that on occasion, it's impossible to act authentically. Despite 15 years in recovery from addiction, 9 years of CBT and numerous episodes of Dr Phil, I am afraid that the humiliation of my childhood still scares me into people pleasing ordinariness. (I am usually authentic. I am just saying...you know?)

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Satya Robyn's avatar

Yeah, I think shame is one of the biggest shapers of our behaviour - sometimes we spot it (as you have here) & sometimes it goes further underground... That's how it is for me anyway. My people pleasers will never wear off completely but I think they ARE better...

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