It doesn't matter who we are -- how rich, famous, talented, or educated. At some point each of us will face the choice of claiming our power or giving it away by trying to please someone else.
Pleasing others is a habit that some of us developed when we were young. We learned that if we did something special -- if we were cute, danced, used good manners, or received good grades in school -- we would gain the affection and the approval we desired. Some of us learned that we had to forsake our own needs to fit in with our families. We kept our opinions to ourselves. We stayed silent, even when we longed to share our views. We followed along with the crowd rather than making waves. For most of us, this pattern of behavior began in our interactions with our parents. Now this habit is embedded deep in our psyches. We've learned to give away our power for the approval of others. We deny ourselves the gift of our voice, our opinions, and our authentic expression. Obligations, "shoulds", and guilt become the dictators of our actions.  From my friend, Debbie Ford.