Meditation reading for Friday March 15, 2024
SHOULD EVERYBODY LIKE ME?
In AA discussions, the term "people pleasers" doesn't fare very well. When people say they are people-pleasers, they're acknowledging that it's also a problem. It's a problem because it reflects a desire to have everybody's acceptance and approval — to be universally liked. But from what we know about human relationships, this is not possible. No matter how hard we work to be pleasant and likable, some people may still detest us for reasons we cannot understand. When that happens, we should not blame ourselves or step up our efforts to please them. We should avoid giving offense in any way, while accepting the fact that they do not like us.
If our own behavior is mature and reasonable, even the people who don't like us may at least respect us. That may be the best we can hope for, and it is certainly far better than shameless people pleasing. In the end, people pleasers don't please anybody and, as a famous comedian notes about himself, they "get no respect."
I'll try hard to be pleasant and cordial to everyone I meet today. If some people do not respond in the same way. I'll accept this without feeling hurt or betrayed.