For as long as I can remember, I’ve been over-responsible. I was overly connected to vibes and energy, I was hypervigilant and hyper attuned to my surroundings and was expected to read minds (particularly my deaf mother) by the time from birth and I learned that I must try to be as pleasing as possible even if it hurt. I’m not alone. I was raised to be the hero – the one that made my parents look good. I’ve felt that I have to be strong and so avoid showing ‘weakness’ by asking for help, expressing needs or sharing my feelings. For the last 100 + years my family live as if they’re in a bad reality tv series. Many people like me in relationships, or have confidence issues at work, and/or have low self-worth, are over-responsible and like me have learned very early in life to be responsible for other people’s feelings, opinions, behavior, needs, expectations and desires. I spent decades as a people pleaser who suppressed and repressed everything about me to prioritize others and also to also minimize or eliminate conflict, criticism, rejection and disappointment. I did good things for the wrong reasons because didn’t know any different. One day I woke up realized I was still in this role and it was making me miserable. I didn’t see it until I hit rock bottom and woke up to realize that doing the same thing that I’ve always done is costing me my emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being.
https://www.baggagereclaim.co.uk/giving-up-the-role-of-being-over-responsible/
https://valorieburton.com/2017/07/30/responsible-6-signs-unhealthy-sense-responsibility/
Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
