I see what you're doing
You Already Know Why You Do It.
Then Tuesday Happens.
Sunday night, you promised yourself you weren't
taking on anything else this week.
By Tuesday afternoon, you've agreed to help
with a project that isn't yours.
Now you're working late, annoyed with the person
who asked, and even more annoyed with yourself
for agreeing.
You've read about boundaries.
You understand people-pleasing.
You can probably explain your patterns better
than most therapists' Instagram accounts.
And still, when someone sounds disappointed,
you feel yourself preparing to fix it.
Knowing why you do something doesn't automatically
change what happens when the moment arrives.
Maybe you've learned that being helpful makes you valuable.
Maybe you've spent years being the reasonable one,
the strong one, the person who understands.
Now you're exhausted from being so damn understanding.
You want to make decisions without rehearsing your defense.
You want to stop volunteering for things you'll resent.
You want to care about people without making yourself
responsible for their comfort.
And you want to do that without becoming cold,
selfish, or someone you don't recognize.