Respect Yourself: Stop Letting Others Take Advantage of You
Everyone needs to learn to respect themselves and stop letting others take advantage of us. Just the other day I noticed that I was about to let someone take advantage of me. It may not have been on purpose, but the gal at the checkout overcharged me for an item. I felt this strong sense of unfairness and asked her nicely to change the price. She apologized and fixed the mistake.
This may sound like a simple example, but the truth is, each time you stand up for what's fair, you respect yourself. When you stop allowing others to take advantage of you and respect yourself, your self-esteem improves.
When others take advantage of you, it can do one of three things: one, tick you off, leading to aggressive outbursts or internal anger at yourself (and them); two, feelings of hopeless and reinforcing the false belief that you don't deserve respect; or three, guide you to act assertively and stand up for yourself. Clearly, the third will help you develop strong self-esteem and more self-respect, but it can feel uncomfortable at first.
Stop Letting Others Take Advantage of You in 4 Steps
It's likely that you are a helpful person by nature, and sometimes you allow people to take advantage of you, because you're nice and you want to please others. Stop this pattern; it's killing your self-respect. You can be kind and nice and have boundaries. Learn to value your own schedule and plans as much as you value others.
Respect yourself step 1: Think of a time that you were treated unfairly. What did that feel like? Perhaps it was your colleague dumping a project on you at the last minute, the waiter bringing you the wrong food, or your mother calling and keeping you on the phone for an hour. Think about how this situation made you feel physically and emotionally. Did you want to fix it but just didn't know what to say or were you afraid to say something in order to get what you deserved? Think about the feelings and thoughts that come up when you recognize someone is taking advantage of your time or kindness. This feeling is important, it will push you to use the following skills.
Respect yourself step 2: Figure out what you value. Is it your free time, workouts, Netflix binges on the weekend? As a therapist, I have people emailing me at all hours of the day and calls that "need to be answered" at all hours of the night but I can't be available 24/7. That's not fair to me and it isn't fair to my clients. If I'm annoyed, angry, or frustrated, how am I going to be serving them? Instead, I decided to set hours, and let my clients know these were. This helped me spend my time with family and friends
Respect yourself step 3: Start small. Pay attention to the details. Did your cab driver keep the meter running or your friend keep you waiting for an hour? Notice the small things that take advantage of your time, kindness, or your lack of attention. If I wouldn't have been paying attention, the checkout girl would have unknowingly taken advantage of me, and I would have been upset with myself and her if I noticed it later on. Be aware of your interactions and if people begin to make you feel like you are being taken advantage of, then you can act.
Respect yourself step 4: Act. Say something, speak up for yourself. It may just be a question to confirm that your needs are being met, but their answer will also keep you feeling confident and in control. Be nice and polite when you are asking for what you want to be fixed or inquiring about it. Here are some examples:
- Excuse me, I thought the price was lower; could you double check for me?
- I have other plans that I can't change. You'll have to find someone else.
- I only have 10 minutes to talk; how's it going?
Look, at the end of the day, it is you who may be taken advantage of, so you have to step up, be brave, and respect yourself otherwise it will keep happening. The more you practice saying "no" or standing up for what's right for you, the higher your self-esteem will become.
Emily is the author of Express Yourself: A Teen Girls Guide to Speaking Up and Being Who You Are.You can visit Emily’s Guidance Girl website. You can also find her on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.
APA Reference
Roberts, E.
(2015, April 3). Respect Yourself: Stop Letting Others Take Advantage of You, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, December 21 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/buildingselfesteem/2015/04/respect-yourself-stop-letting-others-take-advantage-of-you
Author: Emily Roberts MA, LPC
My whole life I have been taken advantage of, because I don't know how to say no. I had a speech problem as a kids (couldn't say my R's and S's) and find it difficult to communicate my thoughts.. in the sense of saying the right words to get my point across. When I am supposed to say "no" I can't find words to say it, and usually stay quiet until the moment has passed. I had a career on stage performing so that I didn't have to speak with people. I was bachelor is in Kinesiology at university .. go figure.. When I'm trying to explain myself, I tend to show either physically or with photos, maps etc to explain what I mean. I have a hard time retaining information through language while speaking to others or learning in school.. I was kinaesthetic learner more so than audio or visual. It takes me time to process the situation and how to react to it verbally.. an example is if someone is about to trip on something on the ground, I would physically move them to avoid the object before speaking "watch out.." I fell like my brain doesn't process fast enough.
I own my own business now, and in negotiations, and situations that require that (struggling to find the words)... immediate reaction, I'm not reacting, and in the end I get screwed over.
It's frustrating, because I come off as stupid when I know how intelligent I am... and what I know, is that really it's the people who are good speakers who don't know that much, but know how to use it to manipulate situations in their favour.
I had a situation when a colleague did something they said didn't do, and when I confronted them about it, they made a potentially true, but I knew it wasn't, story up about why they did it. But after they said it, I froze and couldn't find the exact words to respond. I couldn't confront them at that moment that they were lying to me, even though all I had to say that it is a lie. I said OK. It's even worse when I'm on the phone... I don't know how to train myself to be better and quicker at processing the information and responding. It's been a life long battle since I can remember.
I really think there is a problem with my brain, because its not that I don't want to say "no" I just don't know how to find the words at the right moment.
I too feel I have been taken advantage of in my neighborhood. I live in townhouses geared to income. Many people come & go, there are a few who are still here after 29 years. I have tried to help in many ways, painting, money, groceries etc etc even though I live alone on a small income. My neighbour became sick I offered to buy her a mixer for food, then I bought her a few cloths when she was in hospital, I then got her a box of pull ups for adults. I picked her up from hospital, & agreed to help her while at home, I took her to her appointment for her scar wound care & agreed to take her weekly. I asked only one thing can I change her dressing at 11am because I have a new puppy & I am up in the night & early mornings. I offered to do some laundry too. She has her adult son at home & her fiancé, plus his adult child. I wanted to help because her fiancé has helped me with several small things around the house which I paid for every time to show respect for his time. I don’t want any money just my time to be respected. Today she was late again to do the dressing of her wound & she asked me to borrow money for her too which I said no I don’t want to put any more items on my credit card. It felt like a punch in my gut when she asked, I have only one child & 3 grandchildren that live in California & told her I just paid hundreds in Canadian money to send gifts for birthdays & Christmas. And she still asked to borrow it. Back to today she was an hour late for her dressing. I told her I cannot come over anymore to do your dressing that possibly her fiancé can do it from now on. I spoke to her in length about the time & still again was late. I feel horrible yet I know I must stand up for myself, I feel the problem is within me constantly caring really caring for people because I know how it is too suffer. In closing I must stop caring so much & realize that I am a person, human being which I believe deserves respect of my time, money & well being. So I have to go through with my decision & let the chips fall where they may. Thank you for all your stories & this article which shows me I am not alone……
this is me now today, How do I do this for myself today. I think I have made the right steps and I am forgiving myself for all I may have done with my beautiful brain. I am I wanting to kill myself today, hell no I have way to much to live for. I am okay today I have all I need today. But my calling is posting on this website so I can help others wake to another beautiful day on plant earth. I did you watch the sun come up today? I hope to. I love sunrise, I am up writing my morning pages, I love that fact I have another day on this earth, What does the sunrise look like in your world, it may be different then mine. But the sun did come up and it is a beautiful day. Now again How do I get a login to this site? I want to help others enjoy the sunrise of a new day. The sun always comes up on a new day.
Debbie, forgiveness is a wonderful gift you give yourself. Enjoy every sunrise, and thank you for reading and commenting on our blog.
Thanks for this article. I'm just finding myself with so much anger right now because of feeling that people don't appreciate what I do. I've always tried to be a helpful person. Even at work. I volunteered a couple of years ago to help out a new department with one of their invoices that I had already been taking care of and getting their mail for them and delivering it. This was not my job, but I was willing to help out. And then they figured they could come to me for office supplies. I did that for a bit, but then put a stop to it. They have their own budget, they don't need to use up ours. And then it was can I do something else for them. To clarify, they do have an administrative assistant assigned to them, but it's easier to ask me. I think they're afraid of her. I finally told them that they do have an assistant, and she needs to do it. My boss over heard and said he's glad I did it finally. I've also decided that it's time to quit delivering their mail to them. I wouldn't mind so much if they appreciated it, but instead, they expect it. I think that's the cause of the being taken advantage of feeling.
Kathy, it sounds like you are starting to make strides towards not allowing yourself to be taken advantage of, so good for you. It's great that your boss seems to be supportive of these efforts, too. Best wishes and keep striving.
So this might be alittle long so here it goes. I just realized that I've been taken advantage of mainly by men and I realized this through this process of selling and buying my second home. So when I purchased my first home eight years ago, I was recommended a realtor by the mortgage broker I was using. Since I was getting my loan through the mortgage broker I trusted the realtor because it was someone she knew. I saw a house in the area that I wanted to stay in and it was $110k. Cool, went to look at it and decided to put contract on the home. The home inspector come(who I believe the realtor knew) and eight years later is where I lived. Fast forward, I decided to sell my home because the neighborhood has changed. Found a new realtor and they came to see the house and what may need to be done to update it. That realtor had a brother that did renovation work and they gave me his number. He came over and we decided what things needed to be done. I took out a home equity loan thinking on spending maybe $10-15k for the repairs. Of course as we know things happen when you start repairing. It was consistent with everyday working on the house.I trusted this contractor bevause hey, he was the realtors brother.Guess what that price doubled because there were more and more things that needed repairing.There were alot of things that the first obvious things the inspector should have caught but I pressed on. So it was taking long time for this contractor to do the work (because in my opinion he was working on to many projects at once and was not solely focused on my house). So September 2019 he came
and did the tub. I called to ask another question and left message. One message turned into four messages... unanswered. He never called back. Till this day 3/28/20 no return call and still house is/was not completed. I decided to push forward and get what I can get done. Got a new realtor whom I love and adore and she is guiding me along the way. $36k later and more repairs that needed to be completed, I put house on market and it sold in 5 days. I was so excited because I can get out of this money pit and go onto my new journey. The buyers had their inspector come and guess what more problems with the house. I still owe on my loan$87k plus have to pay back $36k from home equity and because the neighborhood has changed the house had to be put on market for less and for what homes in neighborhoods
are going for..$149900. So you do the math. I will not be making any money on this deal..oh and I have to pay their closing cost of $4k. I am crushed. No one had my back.. not even me. I trusted too much and didnt trust myself. I was going into it with my best intentions thinking they were as well when they were just thinking of themselves. So,moral to the story.. first..this house really should have been a house for an investor not a first time home buyer who wasn't looking to make repairs. With all of the money I put into house, I should have just gotten a house at 160k (in this area ) on up with everything I desired. The contractor guy, was out to make money for himself and didnt care about me plus there were some shady things that I saw him do that I should have just cut ties with him based on his integrity. I know that I am nice by nature and people tend to take it for weakness when all I wanted was for people to like me...clears throat..people pleaser. I am in therapy (not because of this but it helps) but this has been a eye opener to trust yourself and you do matter. I will be 50 on Tuesday and cant believe that these things are still happening to me (not playing victim but just realization). An expensive lesson to learn....
Oh, Vi, I feel what you're saying. The best thing is that while you can't change the past, you can learn from it. Every experience is a learning opportunity, and I find it personally healing to forgive myself for making a decision that I might regret because I did the best I could at that time with the knowledge and experience I had. You will never go into a deal again without remembering this past one that didn't go well, and therefore you will be in a better and stronger place. Celebrate your growth!
I also have second guessed myself of late and it is not a good quality or one that I wish to look in the eye. You sound like a really great person please don’t put yourself down. There are a lot of us nice ones out there but I do think we’re destined to be constantly let down. Of late I think for me to judge other people on my morals is where the problem may be. Other people just dont think the way we do. That’s not to say we’re naive but it is a hard lesson every time. These people will have to address there sociopathic tendencies on there death beds unfortunately that will be to late for them. Just now it is nice to be nice it might not make us millionaires but people will always respect that kindness wether we see it or not.
Bob, thanks for reaching out and offering your Vi your support. It's so great to feel a sense of community here!
I always get taking advantage of at work. Because I am willing to do extra so then they decide to pile on responsibilities on me..so when I finally say something about it I feel bad. I once said made a comment that they need divide the work up and a I was told that if I couldn't handle I could find other work. So I have been working my butt off while other employees slack. Yesterday I pulled a muscle and took today off. When I called in my supervisor gave me a lecture. I cut my hours and have decided to work somewhere else for 20 hours a week to break the monotony. Hopefully this will keep me from pulling anymore muscles.
Good for you, Pat, for changing something that was making you unhappy. When we are willing to do that, we take our power back from people who take advantage of us. Knowing and setting your boundaries with others is a great form of self-care.
I understand COMPLETELY!!! I worked a job for 15 years as a SMT LEAD riddled with the same types of people and Supervisors. Supervisor and HR only documented complaint from other employees when they didn't want to do the work. Never backed me it was always something I did to make it happen. There are so many company's out there that take the side of a majority of employees no matter if its a lie or don't understand English do to their back ground and nobody makes them, so they cant be held responsible. Putting you in a bad position and years of torment while everybody is looking at you asking " What is your problem?" Ya know what, stop letting individuals get away with this behavior. Tell ya what, my Supervisor and Manager knew it but chose to side with liars which I had enough of!!!!! Now unemployed [moderated] No shred of decency here. These people know who they are [moderated] so I hope karma KICKS everyone of them in the ... !!!!!!
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent'. I just had a huge wake up call about being 'kind'. I volunteer in another country at animal refuges. I care deeply about the condition and plight of animals and saw first hand the challenges faced by the caretakers trying to help the animals. So over the last few years I have developed relationships and a couple times a year I bring suitcases full of things to help the animals and also things to help the people helping the animals. Well, at one of these refuges I have brought stuff to on several occasions, I visited last week with 3 suitcases loaded. Everything in my suitcase is bought by me, I don't work with any organized charity, I just saw a huge need and decided that 'one person could make a difference'.
This time around my 'host' (contact/thought was a friend) takes me to a very expensive tourist restaurant along with another person and orders the most expensive thing possible. The bill--which I of course was expected to pay-- equaled what the average person makes in that culture in one month. I don't live/eat like that in my own country and I would have been quite happy with something much more modest. On the way home I stopped at a tourist grocery store to buy a jug of water and I grabbed two containers of cooking oil for my two companions since it was something they could use and is periodically hard to get in their country. Well, one of them, the one I have known for a while, proceeds to pick out two extreme luxury type items that are not available to the typical resident and she puts them on the conveyor belt for me to pay for. I was shocked. I did not say anything at the time about this bold move but inside I was extremely disappointed since there were items in the store that would have fed the animals I came to support but she didn't select those items.
The final straw was the next day. Another person I worked with and brought supplies for shows up and wants to take me to lunch 'at a friends house'. That turns out to be a taxi ride (I pay) and then it is not a friends house at all but another fancy place where one meal is equal to the cost of a months wages in that country. Then this 'friend' says the other friend (the one who put the expensive items on the conveyor belt) wanted me to wire some money to her husband who was in another country working. That would be the money I gave her for animal food for several months after the stuff I was bringing ran out. She wanted to wire money to her husband to buy some personal luxury items. I said no. The person I am sitting across from in the expensive restaurant keeps saying I didn't understand the request and won't drop it as a topic. I of course do understand. I understand the money I gave to help a cause close to my heart was not going to be used to help the animals at all, it was going to be used for some unnecessary luxury item to enrich a household that had nothing to do with the whole reason I was making a trek to the country in the first place. That was it for me. The last straw. I told the other person to drop it, the answer was no and when she didn't drop it I grabbed my purse and walked out the door.
The person followed me on to the street, grabbing my arm, telling me again I didn't understand the request but of course I did. They were bold enough to claim they weren't asking me for money, just to wire some money-- yeah, the money I gave yesterday!! I don't think I have ever felt so completely depleted and used and disappointed and shocked.... but then I have to own my own part of this. I made the decision to go to that country, to spend my own money, to neglect my own house and needs to try and help. I had to own that behavior and see that I was maybe using this 'mission' to defer dealing with some things in my own house and life that needed attention. Are you being 'kind' to keep blinders on in your own life situation?
I will not let this situation stop me from trying to help animals, but I go into it with eyes wide open and a more modest approach and also with the understanding that maybe when I feel an overwhelming need to try and make a difference in some far flung country I might be hiding some basic truth about my own situation from myself. It is a learning experience. To have kind impulses is a noble positive outlook on life but don't let it be used against you. 'Charity begins at home'-- be kind to yourself first and step back and see where your own weak spots might be leading you to a place that allows someone else to take advantage of you. Walk away and say no and no is its own answer, no need to explain a 'no'. No is no! Don't let one user sour you on others, don't become cynical but don't be a doormat, either.
This sounds like it was a very important experience for you, in understanding how you wish you exist in the world. Thank you for sharing your story!
I laughed sooo hard cause the story you shared could’ve been about my life! I’m currently in a foreign country, going through the most, all because I’ve subjected myself to accepting mediocrity in my relationships. I can sooo relate to your story, thanks so much for sharing.
Hi Emily, great article. I find myself on both sides of this. I feel I take advantage of those who love me (my family).
While I'm a total door mat to others boys, friends, people I want to love me. How do I find a middle ground where I can be respectful to myself and others?
i want to share and excuse me if it too long i need to let it out..
people been taking advantage of me my entire life
since i was a kid
my family "mom,dad and siblings" no wonder my friend too
i been raised to be taking advantage of . i can't stand up for my self. every time i do it thy got mad and i began to feel guilty AF . am 25 years old and i can't stand out for my self i have low self esteem .
myfam build this image of me without even looking at me if i act different of what they expect me to do they would reject it
i can't even speak for my self and i believe that's why i don't have friend thy always use me and then dumb me when they finished using me i can't trust no one "now i have (1)trust issue"i can't even trust my self .
i tried once to act i stood in front my mom for something i thought silly not a big deal ''' she ended up in the hospital she got diabetes and Pressure disease and she couldn't handle the truth or the why i did i still feel guilt about it she got in the hospital for 3 months because of it .
now i can't even tell her that am "gay" i mean she got so mad when i told her am "atheist" she still denial it "she says "be a hypocritical but don't you dare to be infidel "
am still virgin they want me to marry a Muslim guy...
and what killing me that i know they don't give a dam about me
They will sacrifice me for their ::ennoble honor::
i want to leave to start over but i cant do it
i cant stand out for my self cause i don't know how to do it. i tried .
i worth nothing .
cant do anything to Chang how i feel about my self
i been throw a lot ...i got sexually assaulted by my big and younger brothers i felt betrayal to me don't got evidence it won't confirm my family wont believe me . i guess thy got away with it
its hard for me that thy still live with me and the family
and to be seeing them everyday .
it was in 2012 i guess am still not over it . i cant feel safe at home or anywhere else it effect me so much that
i can't have a job like normal person i dont have trust on my self i cant defend my self am weak stupid and worthless who can't accomplish anything in life .
every time i want to move on new shit happen
i need to over coming my self and escape to a place i can find love and appreciation to find people who except me for who i am
people who will respect me and treated my like human being a person feelings
i really dont know what to do with my life
Hi Nad. I believe and understand your emotional distress as I'm myself learning how to respect myself by practicing healthy boundaries.
We all deserve to live fulfilling lives, unfortunately some of us haven't had the chance, while growing up, to acquire the necessary tools to have the capacity to demand respect from others. Since our families were not able to provide us with unconditional love (because of their own personal issues), we grow up thinking we're worthless. Because those one-way relationships is all we've known, we are unconsciously attracted to people that take advantage of us. It's a vicious cycle that in my case did turn into a vicious cycle of being abused and becoming an abusive person as well.
Thank God, I have overcomed that cycle approx. 10 years (I'm 55) through therapy, self-reflection and, a ton of determination and hard work.
Although one part of me still struggles with self-love, and trying to be less vulnerable to being used and abused, the other part of me is still determined to continue my daily personal work of listening to my own needs so I can stop putting the needs of others ahead of mine by setting boundaries.
Please remember, each person in this world is valuable in their own and unique way. We did NOT choose to be ONLY loved if we meet our families high expectations to make THEM feel good. We did not choose to being sexually abused by family members and have our basic needs of safety, unconditional love and respect been totally ignored by those who should have been there to protect us.
We are the ones who have to become our own parents, give ourselves unconditional love and self-respect. One step at a time. It's normal to go forward one step and go backwards a few steps, however, we CANNOT give up on ourselves, we must be our own cheerleaders!
So stand up after each fall, shake the dust off, roll your sleeves, keep you chin up and get ready for the next round of fighting for yourself.
PS...and don't be scared of getting bruises, they are part of our fight to gain self- esteem.
PPS. I'm proud of your capacity to share such deep emotions as it helping me in my journey.
Hi Charlotte,
Thank you for your comment. I know discussing sexual abuse can be a difficult thing, and you approach this topic with grace and kindness. I appreciate everything you wrote, and the time you took to write it.
Good evening, beautiful my heart goes out to you for the pain you are experiencing. I want to say to you, you are brave for putting this out there. I think I know why you resorted to being an atheist, you must feel like God has left you, and allow these terrible things to happen to you. I want you to try something it might sound strange as well feel unease, but ask GOD to remove the bad spirits away from you. Ask him to reveal what your brothers done to you to your parent's, and trust that its going to come out. Your brother's will began to experience bad karma for what they've done to you. GOD is not an evil person and he will come to your rescue. They did not get away with it. I will share this with you my step mother was sexually assault by her brother as well, she carried that pain around for years until she met my dad. She told my father and her brother who had done that to her was in jail serving amlife sentence. My father wrote him a letter and told him he needed to write his mother and tell her what he had done. He failed to do so and my mother told his mother. I'm saying this to say people don't get away with bad things, GOD will punish them and her brother went to jail for something else but he will never see day light again he will spend the rest of his life in prison. Don't give up on GOD that's what the devil want you to do. Go ask GOD to forgive you and he will ask GOD to heal your heart. I love you here is my email if you want to talk.
natanya2015@gmail.com
Hello, thank you for your comment. I appreciate your decision to share your story in the hopes that it will support and encourage another person. While many of us come here with different religious beliefs, self-forgiveness is a universal concept that we all work to understand.
Being a person who believes in God and His ability to bring forth the truth of one's discretion, by your step mom telling your dad about her abuse and your dad turning them in, how do you know when it's up to you or God to bring forth someone else's illegal activity. I have information on someone who could go to jail if found out. Embezzlement and fraudulent activities against the government and his children's names are on the overseas 'trust fund' that he is in the process of getting the last $300,000 out, his children are involved because their names were put on there over 40 years ago. His corporate attorney hired the legal team, attorneys to represent the father and his children, they just found out their father is the beneficiary and not the cousin who they were initially told was. They were also told they'd each be receiving around $30,000 and now it's looking more around $2000 if anything. It had caused a lot of emotional distress for one of the children and I know others aren't really too happy about it either. This has been on going for over 3 years and they keep needing more information and keep getting told its costing them more than what they planned. I don't feel comfortable exposing the truth yet I am feel extremely angry as I watch this born again Christian put his children through this. His lack of consequences for his choices and puts himself before his own children. Your thoughts. Thank you.
He said he was atheist. Stop this nonsense writing you don't have to keep owing anything to g-d. Just say a light with positive power and find that light within yourself.
I love you Nad and I’m sorry all those things happened to you. I wish I could hug you and kiss your head. I would love to kick your brothers butt for what they did to you. You are very special and were wonderfully made, all of you.
I pray that you will see this soon because you are my beautiful sister. We may not be related by blood but my heart tells me we are one in the same and my beautiful sister you will always be.
Supporting members of our community can help create a healing environment for all–it reminds us that we are not alone. Thank you for your comment.
Dear Nad, i know it dont seem like it right now but this too shall pass. God wont give us more than we can bare and what doesnt kill us will make us stronger. Ask God to give you his strentgh,his wisdom and to show you his truth. Ask him every day and he will do just that. You are Gods child and he loves you very much. God bless you child.
Though we all come from different religious backgrounds, being able to show and feel support is an important part of healing. Thank you for your comment, Catherine.
I try my hardest to be nice to everyone and respect people’s privacy and space, this is what most of my friends love about me. They mistake and take my kindness for weakness and they bail on me last minute when I’m already waiting for them at a restaurant, or put their anger out on me when they have had a bad day, or put me down when an opportunity arises to make themselves feel better, and put out my faults. I cut 1 friend out and then went back because she sincerely apologized, but this year as I tell people’s own their action affect me they change their mood and say that I’ve changed. Is this how all friends act or should I look for new friends. Thank you
Hi Sahra,
Thanks for your comment. That sounds like a really difficult situation. Obviously you want to be a nice person and people admire that about you, but it seems even your friends will sometimes take advantage of you because of that. It's okay not to always try your hardest to be nice and available for others, especially when this means you're letting others not be nice towards yourself. There is definitely a balance to be struck.
This isn't necessarily how all friends act. Maybe they're not purposefully taking advantage of you and being unkind, but it could be worth having a conversation with them about how they make you feel. If they are your friends, they should be understanding and be willing to respect you in the future.
Take care Sahra,
Sam
Sahra, can I just say that I also went through similar experiences except your scenarios sound more hurtful :( I’m sorry you went through that, and I know how confusing it can be. You ask yourself, where does it all begin? It starts in the now. If you really want to nip this in the bud for real, it will take time. Analyze your friends and if any are toxic (putting you down especially consistently) cut them out or distance yourself. If they wonder, you can either say upfront the dynamic of your relationship and how it makes you uncomfortable, or play it off and continue the distance. It depends how brave you want to get. At this time, you are vulnerable and need to control your environment as you continue improving yourself. Next, you will have to pay attention and act on present situations where you can catch your friends in a hurtful scenario. I really do believe if one does not stand up for themselves then it means there’s a lack of self respect, self love. Think how critical this is. You will make mistakes and have your voice shake, but think of the reward. It will make your relationships much better, the real friends will naturally be divided by ones who have ulterior motives. And you will stop having this poisonous feeling eating away at you. You sound amazing and kind and I hope you find your brave side, I know you have it. <3 Hugs
These are not friends a true friend would never stand you up at a restaurant and not show up cut you down for any reason if a true friend has a problem with you they would still be kind and discuss things until it is solved ...Yes you need to find new true friends...I hope things get better for you
What about in situations where it is typical in Asia not to respect your clients’ money, time, kindness, and patience. They don’t treat me very well if i don’t look like I have money- the irony in that is- I do. I dress and act nicely and politely to see how well they treat me. More often that not, not very well and charge triple what the service is worth. When I clarify they point to the sign and won’t admit their mistakes or come up with an excuse. It’s just in Asia these two places are the best in term of location.
I have one son whom I raised as a single parent. He married into a family with no family values. When I I say his mother in law says something it’s respected but if I suggest something it’s disrespectful and intrusive by me as my son tells me. I decided I am no longer exposing myself to this. The girl he married doesn’t know how to cook clean raise kids and is very dependent upon her mother who is in a relationship with no commitment and her brother doesn’t do anything at 27 . My family is structured. My son went to live with this girl at her home at 16 years ol and her mom allowed it. He had just finished High school bad choice but oh well. I didn’t want this for him but can’t impose thinking on an almost legal adult. N at her place there were no rules!
Hi Adrianna, thanks for your comment. That sounds like quite a tricky situation, as obviously you want the best for your son but he is also living an independent life now. It, of course, must also be difficult to hear that your words are not respected by your son. Perhaps you could have some one-on-one time to chat with your son about what you've written here? Have you talked about this with him before? If so, what was the reaction?
Take care, Adrianna.
My family is letting us stay in their house while my grandmother stays at her moms until the unfortunate day she dies. We are living rent free and only pay utilities but my grandma(her house) wants to have a bunch of stuff done. Renovations and what not. At first my GMA didn't want us staying in the master, I got her to let us stay there but she only wants us to stay for a year in the room. And then move to a different room. My husband says they are taking advantage of me because my GMA didn't make my mother and her kids do any of that. My husbands says they keep taking advantage. And I know they do but my family prides on family cpmming first and you just do stuff for them. They've helped me out in the past. I don't know what to do or what to thinn
I have my mother in law staying with us and it was suppose to be temporary few weeks, which turned into months and now over a year and few months! I have talked with my husband about how she should be helping with hydro, tv and internet if she wants to continue to stay. she always pulls the pitty me card " I just need to catch up". seriously im going nuts inside ?. she comes and goes when she pleases and likes to drink whenever now. I feel like I'm gonna be forced to do a b**ch card. I want my own space and privacy back. I've dealt with in-laws enough now. even my own mom stayed her but she didn't even wanna impose more than a week. I feel lots of frustration and anger every time I see my mother in law and that's not the way I wanna feel. she makes good money and choose not to do anything.
Solitude is not the same as lonelyness, or being taken advantage of.
I have neighbors who enjoy taking advantage of my kindness every time they park in my driveway and expect me to excuse them and say: "Oh, that's alright". When I get mad about the problem they immediately place a guilt trip on me by calling me a "bad neighbor". Another incident is using my outside water faucet when they hook up their own hose and wash their car in MY driveway. Another incident occurred when it was pouring rain outside and the 29 year old male neighbor parked his car in my driveway because he didn't have any rain gear. I said to move the car out of my driveway. He called me a bad neighbor because it was raining really hard and I wasn't feeling sorry for him. Boo Hoo!
Everyone needs someone but when there's no one around it's impossible. I agree we have to respect ourselves. That being said what happens when you are only surrounded by users and didn't realize that they were? What about those that just refuse to respect you no matter what boundries you set up? Also what about those who you thought were friends but decided they couldn't help due to their conclusions of you being capable to solve the issue or didn't have time in their life to assist you? What about those, hmmm? What if there were absolutely no one there to help you What then? Face it, we are all users and are only after what "we want". Everyone needs someone but when there's no one around it's impossible. Inner strength has it's own limitations. To many give advice and don't help with the action part. There are people out there that need help with the action part too. Oh another thing! Why is it that the issue is always with the person seeking help? They are at least trying to resolve the situation. Respect comes in many forms that have yet to be discovered.
If I'm missing the message that you are trying to convey in this blog I'm sorry.
Right on. About the people who tell you you can handle it....even tho they know you need help.... Or the pnes who dont have time ...Or who listen ..tell you what to do but dont have time to take action. Forexample to go with you. Or come over..or whatever action.would help
Worse yet wont even think the situation through with you..
Yet these people ..call me for a ride when car breaks down...cuz I offer. (No more) soak up my encouraging words etc when they call me with a problem etc... It takes a while to see these people are like that.......Then comes the deep hurt I feel. I get over it with time....but until then. Peole like me put out signals to "predators" for lack of better word right now... Wanting to find out what those signals are...
I also have multiple people taking advantage of me! I know he is bad 4 me! Just when he holds me it feels so amazing nothing else even matters!
Ive let all the people around me, make me believe that they need me because i was smart, always know the answers. But listen to me when i tell you that all they did to me was make me feel burnt out and stupid. They now have someone new to screw, to let believe that they are needed, that they are all they have. All that they are users.... Im telling you. Im all messed up because they made me believe i was the answer to all their problems. All i was to them was "a roof to have over their head, a blanket to make them feel warm, and a restaurant open 24/7". Im getting up, they might have beaten the hell out me, but ill be standing once again, and it will be without them around me...
Same issues here! Thank you for sharing. It helped me to see myself. I’m a strong independent person and got the royal screws done 3 times...I’m WAY TO NICE! DONE!
I was the same way. I gave myself to someone who was a taker, a narcissist. Never again! I learned a very painful lesson.
the cashier did not mean to take advantage of you. she gets paid minimum wage and does not profit at all from overcharging you. you should have asked for the manager to correct the price in the system, because the product wil only be the same incorrect price when the next person buys it. I think you article is very helpful. You even provided us with what to say in common situations, which is helpful too.
I recently found myself in a relationship with 3 different people. It was chaos. Trying to fit everyone in and trying be a different person for everyone involved. Then things took a turn for the worst, when I began sleeping with 2 of them.
My heart ached for those 2 months because I knew what I was doing was wrong and it was below my standards of values. Although there wasn't any psychological recourse. What I encountered was a breakthrough. I had decided that in order to be involved in a successful relationship, I had to stop gambling my time between 3 people. All of which I knew weren't providing anything other than space fulfillment in there prospective time slots.
The most exhausting matter of all my actions above all, was that I had made myself to believe that no one could see the mess that I was creating within. And that everyone I had chosen to have a relationship with, was only offering me a negativity that I had fled from in a previous relationship that was with one person: the father of my son.
My sons father was an abusive user, that only wanted to control me. He was controlling in that he wanted to decide who I could talk to while I was with him (like family). Or what I could do while he was away.
I had began to think that in order for someone to prove they loved me they had to buy me something. Which often times was what my sons father would do when he had done something to cause friction between us that he ultimately wanted to dissipate.
I've spent a very long time trying to suspend the cycle of arguing, debating, hurting, crying, living in disappointment and depending on that man. ONLY to allow him to sprinkle a few sweet words in my ear about his redemption to our relationship and within a snap was having sex with him one minute and watching him walk out the door the next. - This left me heart broken. And very empty. Don't ever do this. Don't reverse the clock on a decision you KNOW is a bad one. It will only fester into dissatisfaction over your actions and alienate you from your goals as well as your purpose. Live your values.
Now- I'm at the place where I could cut off the other individuals, but couldn't cut off my sons father.
Then suddenly I said, yes I can.
I can and I will cut him off- even if that means I won't be able to see my son for some time (as I gave him full custody after we split, because he wanted to control me with paperwork) Which means ALL the horror stories you hear about women not allowing fathers to see their children and cutting fathers completely out- my sons father has done that to me. And yes, I am a woman (obviously).
You may say. You're nuts. You're not responsible. You don't care about your son. But I do. I love my son immensely. And even if I didn't see my son for 1000 years he will always know I love him and at some point he will seek to find me. I just have to give it time.
But between then and now I simply have to isolate my sons father from my life as he is counterproductive. He is a cancer that if you allow in, will spread like wild fire. He is toxic. He is insidious.
I am on a serious journey to 'stabalize' my inner peace so that I may radiate it with out and attract the things that I know I deserve. And I'm hoping that allowing some time to pass undistracted from negative people and situations will bring; solitude, harmony and peace to all that have been involved.
Please share your thoughts. I would love to hear them. Thank you for reading.
I do u understand me too I had to let my son go not because I did not love him I had to so he got to raise him and his family after 21 years he came back into my life the sad part is I could not really tell him what happened he said he already knew but he didn't because they had told him a bunch of Lies just got to do a lot of praying and hoping we started having a relationship again as mother and son but the problem is again more lies set in and he believed them the only thing I can tell you is that your his mother and only one person can be his real mother no one else can be so just hold in your heart that one day he will come to you I just hope and pray that he listens to your side of the story I never got a chance to tell my son my side I'm 56 now and he's 34 but I hope I'll be able to have that chance before I die and leave this earth that he will give me the time to tell him or something will happen where he will see the side that he should have known a long time ago just remember you can't change people and what they do just for their own satisfaction you just build yourself up and you'd be the person that you are and you need to be and in the end I'm sure things will work out fine
Thank you so much for sharing. I have someone taking advantage of me right now and I need to get rid of him.....This information is so helpful, thank you.