People Pleasing

They hate me

But adored you.

They say I've changed

And don't act the same.

Upset because I say no

Instead of pleasing them

And stroking their ego.

See I'm not the same person

I used to be.

No longer gullible and naive.

No longer willing to bend over backwards

And come back crawling on my knees.

Y'all loved me as a yes man

When I used to beg and plead

To please everyone else's needs

Not caring how it affected me.

The constant need for validation

To be of service and not disappoint

Walking on eggshells and holding it all together

Trying not to falter underneath the pressure.

See I was a people pleaser

Doing everything for everyone

And not caring for me.

Burning myself out and always on the go

Without ever thinking to stop and speak up

To say No.

No.

My new favorite sentence.

It eases my mind by eliminating all this pressure

Because it doesn't require an explanation.

To why I can't and won't live up to everyone else's expectations.

Now I'm the one in control

Because I could care less about how others view me.

No longer falling for manipulative tactics

That once held me in a chokehold.

I'm free to be

Because I chose to let go of people who didn't love growth on me.