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When do i get to stop making everyone else happy?

262 Answers
Last Updated: 04/13/2022 at 10:09am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Jessica McDaniel, LPC, LCPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

I have been practicing cognitive behavioral psychotherapy since 2007 with a diverse group of adult clients with various diagnoses, all races, and socioeconomic classes.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
March 7th, 2018 2:03pm
Now. You will get exhausted and drained at some point. And the truth is, we try so hard to please them but one mistake and they’ll never remember what you’ve done for them. Besides, everyone has his own business, own concerns. Try to give happiness to yourself first..
Anonymous
March 24th, 2018 4:12am
You never have to make everyone else happy. As long as you're happy, that's good enough. You can't make others happy until you're happy.
greatfulCupcake53
March 31st, 2018 8:12am
When you realise that making others happy isn't your first priority. It's in your hands to end it. The day is what you need to choose. It might be now, today, tomorrow or years later.
RebelArtSoul
April 4th, 2018 10:08pm
If doing so is compromising your own happiness, i would say that right this moment is when you get to stop. Your first obligation in this life is to know you and to take care of yourself. When i take care of others without tending to myself, i find I’m not really helping anyone, at all. When my needs are addressed, I’m much better able to care for others. I have created relationship dynamics in the past, which focus my attention off of myself and onto the other person. I’ve found that, in the end, taking care of them was actually preventing them from learning or taking care of their own needs. This has, at times, stunted their personal growth. Instead of helping—which i *thought* i was doing— i was actually hurting them, on some level. It’s hard to disentangle, but it is such a brave and healthy step to take. I hope you find your own way of leaning more into you. You are 1000% worth it!
Peopleoftheworld
April 6th, 2018 11:11am
Take some time out for yourself. It's an amazing quality to be able to help other people, but it definitely can become tiring. Take a day to do something for yourself to revitalise and refresh your mind.
QueerChristianTeen2004
April 7th, 2018 3:27pm
As soon as you decide to. You should be working on yourself. You are important. Even if others say you're not.
Thekoalagod
April 14th, 2018 5:21pm
Some people say the greatest key to happiness is in being compassionate. It may not be entirely true. Being compassionate exhausts people. Making everyone happy would require being ignorant and careless about your own happiness. Of course, my answer only applies to specific situations. But generally, people should make each other as much as they can.
Anonymous
April 29th, 2018 1:47pm
As soon as you try to make yourself happy. Making others happy is not a bad thing. It only becomes a bad thing when you start to put their happiness before yours.
EspritDuKaren68
May 2nd, 2018 3:22pm
Now. Just do it NOW. The more you prolong this, the more your spirit dies everyday. Please for your own health consider taking care of YOU first. Also, you can't make everyone happy. And finally, you may grow to resent them later. Just be YOU. And realize happiness is an inside job. We all are responsible for making ourselves happy. That is not your job.
Anonymous
May 9th, 2018 8:58pm
Happiness is something only that person can control. Like you can only control how you feel, what you do and think - same goes for everyone else. Happiness is something that we have to find inside ourselves, not the other way around. People put limits on happiness. I will be happy... - IF i get this job. IF this person goes out with me. IF.... etc. Doing things for others is a wonderful thing, but wearing yourself out trying to always please others can create so much sadness in you. You work so hard to make everyone happy but don't get around to tending to your own self (self care). Be greedy. Put yourself first. Your happiness counts more than anyone else. You are in control over your own self, not anyone else (same applies to others). Don't worry what everyone else thinks, wants, says or does. At the end of the day, the only thing that matter is YOU.
Anonymous
May 10th, 2018 7:59am
Well, making other people happy in good ways should always be a goal to reach for, but not at the expense of your own benefit. You have to look after yourself and prioritise your mental health as well! Letting people understand when you don't necessarily want to make them happy is key to accepting you own problems.
Anonymous
May 13th, 2018 3:52am
Don't think of doing that. It's really nice that you have a talent of making everyone else happy. There are people that wants everyone else happy but they can't.
Lskraa
May 26th, 2018 4:49am
Pleasing others is an amazing trait to have, but you also have to remember to put your own needs first. You're the most important person to yourself, after all. You're worth it!
Anonymous
May 31st, 2018 6:46pm
You get to stop making everyone else happy if you are not happy yourself. Remember to always think about your mental and emotional health.
Sken24
June 2nd, 2018 3:47am
You get to stop making other people happy when you realize that only they can make themselves happy, as we do ourselves.
Anonymous
June 11th, 2018 9:36pm
You need to find a balance. It’s important to make yourself happy. How can you make others happy if you yourself are unhappy?
Anonymous
June 20th, 2018 3:01am
This is something that’s always been really hard for me. It’s taken me a lot of work over the years to learn that I am only responsible for my own happiness and that no matter what I do or don’t do, I can’t really make anyone else happy. I need to take care of myself.
Darcee
June 20th, 2018 9:41pm
As soon as you stop thinking of yourself and wanting everyone to like you. It's liberating to change your focus.
Anonymous
June 24th, 2018 8:42pm
You have to learn how to focus on your own happiness and well-being. Sometimes is good to be selfish
Anonymous
June 29th, 2018 10:01am
that'll happen if you start thnking about yourself instead of others, it's not selfishness, its selfcare.
Anonymous
July 6th, 2018 4:54pm
When you ask a question like this. Honestly at this point you should start making yourself happy more. Put yourself first some times. If anyone has a problem with that, then they don’t care enough for you.
Anonymous
July 6th, 2018 9:25pm
When you stop living for everyone and live for yourself, and who knows. Maybe living for yourself means making others happy.
Anonymous
July 12th, 2018 3:51am
If you have the ability to make other people happy, that's a blessing. But if people pleasing become the focus of your life, that can be very emotionally tolling. There's no set point at which you stop making everyone else happy - you've just got to put your boundaries down and start to focus on making yourself happy instead. It won't be an easy process.
Anonymous
July 14th, 2018 12:08am
You don’t necessarily need to stop making others happy, but you should always prioritize your happiness as well. Don’t put aside your happinesses for the sake of others, for that may not be healthy for you. Always remember to treat yourself every now and then, and feel free to say “No” to people if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Anonymous
July 26th, 2018 2:49am
You get to stop making everyone else happy when you are unhappy. It's not okay if you are not happy or if you are going really out of way.
3HereForYou3
July 28th, 2018 11:25pm
You don't have to make everyone else happy. It's just a nice thing to do, as long as you aren't lying to yourself.
freshApricot34
July 31st, 2018 7:55am
when you decide that this isn't what you want to do anymore - you don't have spend all of your time trying to make others happy; since that could indirectly make you neglect making yourself happy
Anonymous
August 3rd, 2018 2:07am
You need to remember that you can not always please everyone all the time. Sometimes you should not feel afraid to say “no” when you have to and be firm as well as polite when doing it. Do not let anyone control you or take advantage of you. You should also remember try to take care of yourself and love yourself as well. Do not worry, there is nothing selfish in doing that. I have been in this situation before and I learned this is the hard way. I am still working on being firm and assertive.
Anonymous
August 10th, 2018 10:37am
On the other hand, why would you want to stop making everyone else happy? Is it draining you in the process? Possibly it is because you are not caring enough for your Self. Loving your self and not burning your time and energy over other's well being might help.
Anonymous
August 12th, 2018 11:12pm
You get to stop making everyone else happy whenever you choose to and, especially when making them happy is not ensuring you are happy too. In this world, there is only ONE you - don't burn out putting others ahead of your happiness and wellbeing. At the end of the day, (and as cliche as it sounds) you really can't help others without helping yourself and so whenever you feel like making others happy is hindering your own happiness, then you have a right to make that decision.