Difficult People Will Teach You How To Build Your Boundaries
If you’re an approval addict or people-pleaser like me, I’m writing this especially to you.
You see, I’m a person who didn’t like saying “No”.
For the longest time, that word wasn’t even in my vocabulary.
For years, I never showed my anger to anyone. After years of smiling even if I was offended, there came a point when I didn’t even feel anger anymore. I simply shut it out of my life. (Believe me, I thought I was very holy because of this. Not realizing I was emotionally a mess deep within.)
I had an approval addiction so powerful, it ruled every decision I made.
Why? Because I was desperate for people to like me.
When someone didn’t like me, I died within.
I didn’t love myself.
I had an abysmal low-self worth.
So I tried to please everyone in everyway.
I abhorred any kind of conflict.
Oh yes, I was a mess.
And one of the ways of making them love me was to always say “Yes.”
I never knew that saying “Yes” all the time was actually saying “No” to an abundant life.
So I tolerated all the difficult people and emotional vampires on the planet: Control-Freaks. Drama-Queens. Nut-Cases. Rage-aholics. Irresponsible Jerks. Hyper-sensitive people. Possessive Parasites. You name the difficult person, I pleased each one of them—just to keep the peace. But the false peace came with a price: I was throwing away myinner peace. My self-respect. My self-worth.
Let me tell you one story…
Build Your Boundaries—
So You Could Welcome People As Guests Through The Gate,
Not Thieves That Run Amok Through Your Life
Billy (not his real name) was a friend who invited me to become a business partner in one of his ventures.
But he had a weakness: He was a controller. He wanted to control me. He wanted to control everyone. The sun and moon and stars included.
For a while, I lived with it. I chalked it up as one of those inconveniences of life, lumped up with Manila traffic, the humidity of the Philippines, and my allergies to shrimp.
But it was incredibly stressful working with Billy.
I didn’t want to admit it. “But he’s my friend,” I told myself every time I felt stressed out. I was in denial. My approval addiction was blinding me to the fact that working with him was driving me nuts.
But one day, I had to say “No” and build my personal boundaries. I allowed him to stomp over my fences many times. I had to repair my boundaries and protect myself.
It was painful, but I knew there was only one way out. So one day, I told Billy that though I wanted to remain friends, I wanted to get out of our business partnership.
That wasn’t acceptable to him. So ever since that day, he never spoke to me again. It was painful because our friendship ended.
But I immediately knew I did the right thing because of the inner peace I felt that day. My approval addiction was defanged. For the first time in a long while, I created a conflict. By respecting myself and my boundary lines, I was growing in self-power.
That day, I finally loved myself.
Today, my relationships are richer.
Because my boundaries are whole, people who come into my life are welcomed guests who pass through the gate (I deliberately opened it for them), not thieves that run amok through my life.
When you say “No” at the right situations, you’re saying a bigger “Yes” to life.
Truth: People Will Do What You Tolerate
So let me ask you this question: Are there people in your life who you should be saying “No” to? Are there difficult people in your life who have been gate-crashing and running amok in your life?
Remember: You teach people how to treat you.
If that person is abusing you, or breaking your boundaries, that means you taught that person that it was okay to do so. You tolerated it. And people will do what you tolerate.
The solution may not be to end the relationship (though sometimes, it is the solution), but to simply say “No” at the specific situations where the person is crossing your boundary lines.
Reclaim your self.
Don’t allow people to trash you.
God loves you. God created you as His child. God wants you to be happy.
So be happy.
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
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Are there difficult people in your life who have been gate-crashing and running amok in your life?...my answer to that is yes...but i feel that this same person needs me, not as a savior, but someone who will just listen to him. i want to make a difference in his life. this person has very low self esteem. honestly right now i don't even know what to do or say. there are times i want to leave him, but i just can't do it, not right now. i know it wouldn't be the end of his world if i do, but i know i can make a difference, hopefully i can make a difference in his life.
ReplyDeleteit's you who said difficult person makes us more patient, more understanding and more forgiving...hopefully i'll have plenty of that...
please help me pray for him...
it is hard for me to say No, especially to people i love.. like family. especially with parents, i should give obedience, but there are times it feels like a chore to always obey. i get tired in the end, balancing pleasing family, friends, and significant other all at the same time.. my joyful giving at times becomes required giving. i need a break and i am reminded that setting boundaries is a sign of giving myself worth.
ReplyDeletesaying NO.. easier said than done.. :(
ReplyDeletethere is a burning desire for me to say "no", however like others, it's hard sometimes to say "no" to family, especially to one's parents --- especially if they feel that you owe them a lot. they always think that you're such an ungrateful child when you say your dissent. but, while i cannot at the moment openly and frequenly say "no" to protect my boundaries, i have plans of instituting and claiming my life. i plan to move out of the house, and establish my own rules. i'm not running from the problem, but i'm lessening the "hold" / favors that they have on me, so i could live my life, as how God intended it to be.
ReplyDeleteit was very enlightening.. good thing i\'ve read your articles. i have a difficult person in my life for almost 2years now.. and the last time we talk i already say no and that i should end our relationship.. it was really hard because i still love him.. but he is turning me to someone not me... someone not GOD wanted me to be.. and you were right the moment i said no i felt inner peace and although i was hurting i felt that i begining to be my old self again..my self respect was back.. thanks kuya bo for being a blessing to everyone.. God bless! ;-)
ReplyDeleteHey Bo,God has given me to share to others like i did,
ReplyDeletekanina, i had two kids who with me and my mom they
join me at legacy park, and then back home to play for
my PS2, is has fun to me that i know that god loves me and my Mom no matter what we have to share God's Love to the Kids, pls pray for me and my mom Ok? by the way the kids are tintin and christian,
have a good day!!
I admit that I have allowed myself to be a people pleaser. But praise God because after eleven years of going out with the same person, I have taken the huge step of breaking up with him. It was an emotional turmoil because the significant people around us expected us to end up together. I prefered to endure their lashing comments rather than spend my life in a vicious cycle.
ReplyDeleteYes it's true, we TEACH people how to TREAT us.
Praise God for you Bo!
I was like them, who pleases everyone to value me and to call meTRUE FRIEND. But I was sad because someof my efforts didnt go well, and yet, they abuse me. They make me lie,covering their mistakes and do bad things to benefit them. I almost lost my self.
ReplyDeleteSo now I learned that saying No is way to say that Give me some break and respect me...
Thanks for that Brother Bo
it's maybe hard to admit that i'm approval addict or people pleaser but this article has just confirmed to me that indeed I am....i've been asking people what's wrong with me when I thought what am doing is only for the good or because of my good natured that's why I try to continue loving those difficult persons in my life....and now I just knew that my being people pleaser is wrong with me....I dont know what am afraid of but maybe I'm afraid to lose them because I have loved them so much but I'm suffering of the pains they have caused...I just realized that the hurts i feel is because of my YES to these people...I just pray for God's grace that I may be able to say NO when NO is needed..........Thanks for this wonderful article...I don't want people to trash me.....God bless you Bo!
ReplyDeletehi bo
ReplyDeletesaying "no"....it's easier to say than doing it...
hi bo
ReplyDeletesaying "no"....it's easier saying it than doing it...
-->When you say “No” at the right situations, you’re saying a bigger “Yes” to life.
ReplyDeleteReading your story was like reading my very own testimony! the key words: partnership, control-freak, stressful.
ReplyDeleteexcept that i am still in the process of recovery, deliverance from false hopes that things can be repaired by "reaching out". i admit i hate conflict, specially with friends even if it means standing up for my basic rights.
and for me it's not just saying NO. it's saying no FIRMLY - i should even practice that to myself sometimes. I have the tendency to say no too nicely.
thanks for the new keywords: personal boundaries, teach, people, how, to treat, you.
say "no" when you mean, no and "yes" when you mean yes...leave no gray areas and you will discover your strenght and weakness...and you will be become wiser indeed...I tried it and I became successful learning from my mistake and keeping the good deeds..for one thing the truth shall set you free...gain respect if you have "self-respect"...God bless and thank you.
ReplyDeleteSaying No to difficult people is just one of the many "requirements" for peace and success in life. Thanks, Brother, for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteWhew!, All the time, I thought I am just a good-natured person - patient, understanding, peace-lover because I don't have outbursts of anger even to people who repeatedly did me wrong. Now I realize thru your article that I am someone with low self-esteem. Akala ko I was just practicing forgiveness 7x70 or unlimited forgiveness...Bro Bo, and to all who will read this..please pray for me that I will have the wisdom so I will know when to say no to the difficult persons arround me. May God grant me the courage to put into action the decision to stop all the abuses I've allowed myself to suffer. Thank you for your prayers.
ReplyDeletenow i realized that what i did was absolutely right...the reason this difficult person being a difficult person to me is because i said NO to her.
ReplyDeletethanks bro bo for once again enlightening me and thank you very much for your greeting yesterday.
Hi Bro Bo!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard saying "NO" but then you are right, we are tolerating the person. Pero paano? when everytime I wanted to say No to him, it's like my heart is crashed. I wanted to be here for him everytime he has problems and someone who he can talk to. I wanted to let him go but still can't find the strength to do so. Feeling ko baka sya yung personal ministry ko.
At the end of the day, i am the one suffering parang hirap ako to face myself. You are right, when you said "you taught the person that its okay do so" .....
Lately, i am controlling myself and saying "No".. parang kaya ko ba ito....
thanks for this timely email ... it is so enlightening.i would definitely share this with my friends.
ReplyDeletethank you again!
hi kuya bo,
ReplyDeletei don;t know if i'm one of them (people pleaser) but one thing is for sure: it's hard to say NO to people close to you. huhuhu. anyways, thanks for the ideas.... Keep it up.
Hi Bo,
ReplyDeleteI can say that people will perceive me as someone with a strong personality. I am vocal when I want to express my thoughts and feelings to a particular situation. But there are some people whom I can't seem to say no to. I don't know why but they have a certain power over me...over other people. I don't know how to handle the situation when it comes down to putting my cards down on the table and stand by it without sounding disrespectful or without feeling that I came out too strong. What happens is, I say yes and I just feel bitter after. Like others, I always want people to see me as a person who's so easy to deal with and talk to. Can you help me Bo by writing specific steps in certain situations on how to deal with situations when I have to stand up and voice what I think and feel is right? Honestly, when I have to face these difficult people, I clam up, I feel nervous, anxious and so unsure of myself I end up feeling and thinking that what I have to say won't really matter. Slowly I've tried to do it. I'm thankful that I have gathered enough strength to face others. But for the most difficult people I've dealt with, I really can't gather enough strength to say no when absolutely needed. Thank you Bo for constantly providing inspiring words to soooo many people. God bless you and your family. More power to all of you at Kerygma!
Another inspirational message for people like us who thinks that being positive in all things help a lot. Thanks, now the boundaries you mentioned will be strictly observed so that truly invited guests can be truly entertained and the thieves that run amok in our lives can be give time to think for themselves. Why waste this precious life being nice to all, and after all your efforts, all they see are your bad traits.
ReplyDeleteAs you always say, LIVE A FANTASTIC LIFE.
Thanks Bo!
I agree with you Bro. Bo.The more we please others the more we suffer the consequences later on in life.It's happening to me now.It's about to ruin my life because of my wrongdoings.Your kerygma magazine is very timely to come into our doorstep to remind me that there is still a CHANCE to amend this deepest mess in my life.Please continue praying for me and my family that i may be able to overcome this biggest trial in my life.AMEN.
ReplyDeleterelationships have to end sometimes for your own survival, for your own good and for the good of that difficult person in your life. you learn something from that difficult person and that person will also learn something from you. the ending though painful is still good for both of you.
ReplyDeletei was a certified people-pleaser. although i still am averse to conflict, i try to resolve difficult matters as rational as possible. there is after all, a thin line between saying no and being a bitch (pardon for that word). in the end, of course, you have to set boundaries and love yourself more.
ReplyDeletethanks bro Bo!
ReplyDeleteyou always enlighten me more with your article. God bless you and your family!
I agree that its very hard to say "NO". especially to the person who thinks that owe you them. They will tell you all the things that they have for you and they will not even remember all the things that you have done for them.
ReplyDeletebro. bo,
ReplyDeletethank you for the article. it's an assurance for me.
yes, i will be saying "no" to something in my life. im saying NO to my job (including people, the difficult and the tolerable. hehe). i will be jobless in july. i am very afraid coz i'll be losing the security, gasp, in these times when all prices are skyrocketing. they say, bloom where you are planted but not me.i feel like a bonsai (not japanese one pa naman). im stagnating, not growing, at times i feel like im regressing.
despite my fears, im holding on to Jeremiah 29:11.
i'm keeping my faith. God is my strength!
either YES or NO
ReplyDeleteDO NOT SAY IT, IF YOU DO NOT MEAN IT!
God bless us all.
Saying No is really a no, no especially if these kind of people has nothing to run into except you. But whether these people will give you harm, as long as you have a very good intention, God is always there to guide and whisper to you if you need to continue or stop... i had a very bad experienced with these type of people, gradually will eliminate them and looking forward of a day that they are really out of my sight. thanks bro bo for continuously giving new learnings everyday.
ReplyDeleteIts so hard to say No especially to the person you love, you have to always say yes to make her happy and for her to love me more though sometimes it hurts so bad. I keep on trying to say no but still I didn't really mean it.. I'm teaching my self to be patient in a negative way because maybe its not being patience at all its tolerating the things you know that is not right....
ReplyDeletethanks for the wonderful article..
God Bless!
Komusta na tanan,
ReplyDeleteI think this does not apply to all cases. In other words, this is situational. If to control is for the other's good, then be it so, like our own children whom we want to succeed in their studies. For relationships, in love, particularly husband and wife, they should be forgiving, self sacrificing, unselfish, should think of the other's welfare, yet not controlling as to halt the other's growth emotionally, physically, spiritually. Then, that's another story. This reminds me of Jesus showing His human nature, when He turned over the tables and money changers in the Synagogue, out of anger for the people, who converted the holy house of God into a gambling and market place. We can see that even God did not tolerate such controlling people to desecrate His Church. So i think , saying "no" and "yes" to others, will depend on what circumstances one finds himself in , and on what kind of people one is dealing with. In dealing with others, we should not forget tho what Jesus said, " Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in Heaven."
Daghan kaayong salamat Bro. Bo,
God bless---
uhm... yes it is true that im a people pleaser, that it is hard for me to say no eventhough my soul is screaming with to say so.
ReplyDeletei have worked with some of the people that always wanted to be in a control and yes i played their game but after 1 year i feel an exhaustion and i gave up everything.
i also was in a relationship before where i was paralyzed with my fears of losing him. so to avoid my fear of losing him i became a "jelly-girlfriend". It means that i just let him to dominate the relation to the point that i no longer know who i am but i just know who he is. ah... then my feared was materialize coz eventually he left me. then i learned in a hard way to live myself as me. I gained control, personality and values that i dont have before. I realize that i have great family and friends. And I started to built my boundary and walls to protect me because the people who loves me wanted me to be happy. Ahh.. and now my exboyfriend is with me again but this time i know how to say no because i learned to balance my love to him and to my family. I'm thankful that God allowed me to be mature woman.
yes, i agree with the rest that it is hard to say no especially to those people who are close to you... it's not only once that they went beyond the boundaries, but it's so hard to say no.. at first i never thought that i was already tolerating them, i just thought that i was just giving them a favor as their friend, but it was already too much... to the point that i don't give myself the chance to grow and decide on my own.. now, i slowly distanced myself from them, for me to do what i want for myself... that alone is already a decision that i have stood up for myself.. though its kinda hard, but i know my friends will understand me... thanks for this article bro. bo... God bless...
ReplyDelete[...] For more click here. [...]
ReplyDeleteTo say "No" at the right circumstance is a blessing not only for the one saying it but also to person who is receiving it. At first, it may look negative but the long-term result will be beneficial to both parties.
ReplyDeleteI am an approval-addict myself. As long as I could take it, I would. But as Bro. Bo has said it would not give you the peace that you were looking for and sometimes it would even make you ask yourself if the decisions that you're making are wise or intelligent ones.
Even the Lord Jesus Himself knew how to say "No". When the devil tempted Him, He didn't give in to the devil's persuasion. He was very aware of the enemy's tactics. And because of that, He emerged as a victor. We too can learn from the Greatest Teacher who has lived and walked on earth, the Lord Jesus Christ! Let us say "No" to circumstances or even people that are detrimental to us as human beings but may we always say "Yes" to JESUS who has His best interest for us!
That's also my problem. Thank God I'm gradually learning to say No. Hehehe.
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Bro. Bo for the wonderful advice. More power and Godspeed. :)
Haha i am just going through this situation. My boss really loves to trash people and a few months ago I decided to say NO. I'm about to lose my job of course but I have never have felt so powerful and so happy!
ReplyDeleteFor sometime I was just telling myself just take everything in for the money but something really had to give. I had to reclaim my self-worth and I'm glad I did it.
I'm about to enter a very rich and colorful life in the next few months, thanks to that smart decision.
www.redcrab.org
Dear Bro. Bo.
ReplyDeleteReading your article helps me realized that saying no to difficult people in our lives means that I take stand on my dignity as person which I should be the first to respect and love. I have been affected with all the negative comments of other people about me and it is very stressful. Comments which suppose to build me up but it is the other way around. Your article help me to realize that I should help myself not to be used and abused by keeping the reminders that God loves me and I have worth as person. No matter what other people say for as long as I believe that I am a good person because of the grace of God. I remain to be and because of that grace nobody can ever destroy me as person. Thank you very much for the inspiration.
It is a case-to-case basis.
ReplyDeleteIf the difficult person in our life happens to be a loved one: a parent, a spouse, a child, it is hard to say no. It will hurt and it would seem unforgiving, but saying NO may just be the key for the situation to change for the better, it may just be the jolt that's needed for our "difficult" loved one to change..
OR, on the other hand, what may just be needed is for us to accept them, warts and all.
We have our reasons to say either yes or no. But whatever your decision will be, promise yourself that you won't regret it. At the end of the day, we only have ourselves to pat on the back for a job well done OR if things don't go well, we only have ourselves to blame for the monster we've created and for our misery..
hi,
ReplyDeleteFor me saying "no" is not that hard. I practice it since college . Everytime my friends ask me to go out with them, I always say NO. Will... for me , I have my valid reason. I have to help my parents at home and their small bussiness. Since, I'm the only child nobody could help them but me. I hope that reason is acceptable for them.
Now my parents is in good hand with the lord. Me, asking them to go out with me and they also say "NO". Ouch! that hurts. Will maybe they also a valid reason like mine. I understand.
just want to ask, i want to study law again after being out for 2 months, but i don't have the money yet to go back. i'm in 3rd year.
ReplyDeletei'm with a good company but i don't get a good pay yet, we are commission based and i find the corporate setting a bit frustrating. to tell you honestly, i don't see myself as an employee but as a boss. someone who handles her own business.
please give me advice: should i stay in this company or should i go out?
just want to ask, i want to study law again after being out for 2 months, but i don't have the money yet to go back. i'm in 3rd year.
ReplyDeletei'm with a good company but i don't get a good pay yet, we are commission based and i find the corporate setting a bit frustrating. to tell you honestly, i don't see myself as an employee but as a boss. someone who handles her own business.
please give me advice: should i stay or should i go out?
Hi. I can somehow relate to that. Unconciously, i'm also a people pleaser, i always want peace. I don't want people get angry with me. Minsan ako na nga ang agrabyado, and yet i still can't say "u don't have the right to do that to me". i still find words not vulgar or might hurt someone. Before i had very low self worth. I didn't believe too much on my capabilities, i don't want people to think ang yabang naman nito, di ako marunong lumaban. Sometimes kailangan pa ko mapuno before ako umusok. But since i started attending The Feast, i realized na we should learn to say "NO' to people who tend to manipulate us. Recently, i made a decision to stop something that worried me so much. Yes i cried about it. But i'm more at peace now with myself and i continue to deepen my faith in God. My decision was not to end something but to let the other person i'm involve with to stop hurting me. I was in denial for sometime but really, God is so good. I know that when He closed a door, He opens a window. I fervently pray that i will grow more in His love through my spiritual family in LOJ. God bless us all.
ReplyDeleteyes... i was really like that brother Bo, I always say yes to people. Its really hard for me to say no because i'm afraid that our relationship will be affected. I feel that if I do so Im a good person to them and I'm doing the right thing for my fellow. There are some instances that I appreciate more others than myself, some kind of low self worth. Now I realized that its not good to always say yes to others. Thanks kuya Bo, im really inspired with your sharings... And I also buy and read some of your book, my daily inspiration. It really guides me, i'm so happy about it. So sad nga lang its so hard to find DIDACHE here (in bohol). Thank you... God bless us.
ReplyDeleteYes, Bro. Bo. I am also a victim of those difficult people. I am a kind loving person. When I was in the Phils., I was able to handle my boundaries with those difficult people but here in California, I suffered a lot of trials and sufferings. I just let those difficult people, I am civil to them, professional but now I am the one whose suffering. There are lots of manipulators here, but I know God made me come here because he has a purpose for me and He is healing our memories, family memories and I am the sacrificial lamb. Before I came here in California, I attended your activities in Araneta Coliseum and Camp Aguinaldo so I know, God sends you to be also a living example for me to love God more and more. God is so good and I know I will be able to overcome all these dryness in my life and I believe that the miracles and blessings He gave me, I will again experience it. My coming over here is a miracle and I am very thankful to God because He is a loving and forgiving God. God is guiding and directing me thru your teaching Bro. Bo. I missed your activities here in California because it was a wrong time, it's mother day and I have to give in to my daughter, who is living in San Diego to celebrate Mother's Day with her, my grandson and her parents-in-laws because her husband was underway (both of them are in the Navy) and God is so good, my daughter is only stationed in San Diego to be with her son after work. The other day, my son-in-law was back already from his assignment. So I thank God for sending you to me Bro. Bo to serve as a living inspiration and guidance. Since I came here in California in April 2004, I was able to attend your activities in Seal Beach and in San Lorenzo Ruiz, Walnut and I know the next time that you will come here, I will be able to see you again. I am part of the LOJ here with the leadership of Bro. Rodel and Sis. Ogie. How I wish we can get a permanent meeting place to praise and worship the Lord through your LOJ community. God bless us.
ReplyDeletesaying no is helpfull...
ReplyDeletein me, i realize that saying no can help you to become a person with honnor and dignity. sometimes we our self pretend that everything is okey, but not all dealing this words is a way of knowing your self the limit of being you. you the person that have a choice. we our self is the key to our self. I my self are the example of approval, everything is okey but them with in me i was trap, living in a cage, pretending that i am okey... in the end i was not. being this sometimes can lead you to be manipulated with somebody. they will used this to control you as a human, a person. but saying " NO" can help... thank you bro...
hi Kuya Bo! (can I call you kuya? I made a folder in my Yahoo! mail with "Kuya Bo Sanchez" as the title and that's where I move all my messages from you.)
ReplyDeleteThis particular subject really affected me because I am an approval-addict, yes a people pleaser. I really need to learn how to say NO. But every time I do, I feel bad. As if I am rejecting people and I felt that I am hurting their feelings. Many friends tell me that it is OK to say no. I am practicing now actually, and yes when I do that it seems as if people just won't take NO as an answer. I feel really bad after. But I did what I had to do. my cousin once told me that I when I say yes all the time, it's like inviting people to abuse me. And yes, I feel abused at times.
Reading this assures me now that, it is fine and super all right to say NO. :) Thank you!
hi Jade
ReplyDeletei dont know how to tell you... i may not bro. bo. but i hope i can help you, i dont know how to send you...
jade sometimes r life is filled with to much questions but when you in doubt, just think it all over if it will help you or not does it help you to grow and learn saying no is not bad... just think it before saying it. give time to analyze if is it bad or good to you.....
this is one thing that i have learned to do a long time ago. maybe because i had to adapt. there were times in the past that i really got burned out. but saying no has never been a difficult thing for me...good for me. :)
ReplyDeletehi Bro. Bo,
ReplyDeletethanks for this very inspiring story. i was touched because seems like our Lord has spoken to me at this very moment. It came at the time that i don't know hoe to say anymore to others.
Now, i am enlightened and know what to do. thanks and god bless you always...
Bro, your stories are very well said and so inspiring. You kept on touching others life and i hope that people around the world read your inspiring stories.
ReplyDeleteThere are still alot of difficult people around but we have to be strong and always remember those gifts. God will always be on our side. Being honest to ourself will bring out the best on us. Often times the difficult persons are the one that are so close to our heart, those one that we love most. And because we don't want to hurt them we say "yes" when in fact we want to say "no". We make them happy yet we let our own self suffer and we alone endure that pain. Yes if we tolerate them they will keep crossing the bounderies and we lost that self respect.
We need to be firm, we need to pray more for guidance so He will lead us to the right path.
Thanks Bro. Bo God Bless.
Yes Bo, I agree with you and it really is difficult and sometimes the persons that matter to you most are the difficult people in your life who have been gate-crashing and running amok in your life. But come to think of it, if your as important to them as they are to you, they won't make it too difficult for you right? And if they still do, then there not good for you....thanks for all the inspirational talks...you just don't know how this enlightens my day every morning before I start my work...thank you and may the Lord continue to bless you and your family always.
ReplyDeletethanks bro bo.. ur always been helpful to many people..
ReplyDeletehi, i know even my family is not vocal about this, i know i am the difficult person in the family. i have mood swings, however, i am easy to get along with. its just that whenever i am tired from work and have lots of stuff to do at home changes my mood. i am doing my best to change this attitude. ^^
ReplyDeleteHow can we actually teach this person if this person has a higher position than you (say, a manager?). I know it's quite complicated but i am not reporting to him and i am not under him but he keeps on "stomping on my fence" ? palagi syang "ober d bakod". feeling nya kasi because of his title, he can manipulate everyone here. yes that's true, sometimes you need t teach him a lesson that it is not okay but how? he is so hard headed and he didn't want to be taught anything because he feels that he is superior with anhybody else here in our office. actually, even our big boss is having a headache dealing with him. i don't know how to deal with him anymore. take not, he is the "senior" (meaning, matanda, as in! :) ) and he is dealing with me or should i say he is abusing a 26 year old female. :( i hope you can help me?
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot!
Thank you for this. Napaka-inspirational. I have this feeling na malapit ko na magawa : ) Thank you.
ReplyDeletePls include me and my family to your prayer intentions.
Hi! Bro. Bo, actually it was in one of your books I read about this "Saying NO..." and honestly speaking I was moved the first time I read it. I got hurt deeply within because I, too, am also an "approval addict", and I carry it from my childhood, to the time I grew up and work and I got married and have family. There's so much stress and frustrations within me and it's growing and affect my entire being and my own family... Until I read your book, I learn to realized where did it came from. And I realized it started from my childhood. I have so much longing for my mom's attention and love...until now I couldn't get it. And I guess there's nothing I can do for my mom to make her love me the way I expected it long before. Thanks to your book and the retreat I recently attended in Tagaytay. I learn a lot from it, especially the Mid-life crisis session... I guess, just like you, it is I who must transform and make changes in my outlook in life. I hope it is not yet too late. God loves me and I know all He want is for me to be happy so that I can make others happy too.
ReplyDeleteYes it's hard to say No! but at last I said it to the difficult man in my life. We live for almost 30 years but the last time we talk i told him to give me a space and right now i have an inner peace in my heart even though heart aches are still there. thank you brod bo for your wonderful article.GOD BLESS U.
ReplyDelete"You teach people how to treat you", this is true. I can relate to the story because it happened to me too. I always says yes to everybody to please them but at the end of the day I fell so empty. It came to a point that they abused me but then before they hurt deeper I've learned how to say NO. Yah, it created a conflict but it feels good that you stand for what you believe that's right and live the life that GOD wants you to have. It's right to create boundiries to the people whom we welcome to your life. All the things that you said Bro. BO in this article are right.
ReplyDeleteBro. Bo thank you for enriching our souls. I always looking forward for your soulfood because my soul is thirsty of GOD's words. And also thank you for creating preachers in blue jeans it really helpd me to understand GOD's word. Walang time na di ako umiiyak pag pinapanuod ko na yun kasi laging sapul sa puso ko lahat ng preaching mo at ng ibang pastor na kasama mo.
thanks for your inspiring thoughts,,,
ReplyDeleteour lives will be a mess if we continue living in a world of passivity and sbumission... we should learn to speak for what we feel, believe and think. i, myself was once a pleaser years ago, but it did not bring much deeper personal growth within.
as what leo buscaglia stated that if you are a banana, be a banana. don't force yourself to become a peach because you will never become a peach. A banana is a banana and a peach is not a banana.
I myself is also a people-pleaser. I don't like conflicts or getting into an argument with anyone. That is why I always do what I think will make everybody happy. But then again, it does not do any good for me. It made me somebody I am not. You are right and it actually struck me, when you said " You teach people how to treat you" because there was this person who thought that I am easy and he could take advantage of me, this made me loose my self respect and think twice of my values. Good thing is that God ended the whole thing before it gets worse.
ReplyDeleteI just need time to forget this person and the whole experience.
Thanks, your blogs are really enlightening!
May God bless you more with good health especially right now that you are very busy. :)
hi kuya,
ReplyDeletesa buhay ng isang tao napakadali ang magsabi ng oo kaysa ng hindi.lalo na kung ang tatangihan mo ay alam mong labis ang kahinaan sa kanyang buong pagkatao.
pero tama ka kuya binuksan mo ang aking puso at isipan na kung minsan ay kailangan ko ring magsabi ng " NO" kasi pakiramdam ko kung minsan hindi na ako ito
hirap na akong maintindihan kahit na ang sarili ko.
mula ngayon pipilitin kong tumanggi kahit na papaano upang bigyan ng kalayaan ang sarili ko at makamtan ang kapayapaang dulot nito.
salamat po kuya sa walang sawa mong pagsubaybay sa amin.GOD BLESS YOU.
i'm really scared of saying "no," though i know it's the only way...i hope it could really make things right... i hope i can be successful by saying no...please pray for me...thank you very much for adding strength to my weakening faith! Ü
ReplyDeletethank you. this has also been my problem. i think before i unconsciously seek the approval of others. please pray for me as i pray for myself and for you to gain a sense of self. We need to remind ourselves that it is OKAY to be loved myself. my dad has been abusive. i realize that this made it difficult for me to love myself, to say no, and to set my boundary. please pray for me as i pray for you. i want to make it a personal mission to learn to love myself again. I cannot do this alone. I need people. People who believe that it is important and it is okay to love the self. I often hear that God loves me so I want to feel that love. God bless all!
ReplyDeletehow do you say "NO" to someone you love? you see its so difficult for me its been a long period of time that i had been in this situation,specially the one that we argue with is the the monthly money to be given to his relative.
ReplyDeleteRight at this moment i am in big financial problem and yet my husband would insist that we give substantial money to his parent when in fact they are 7 sibling in the family and would not want to share with the expenses of their mother.I felt abused with our generosity.But my husband says that we should do it because no one wants to share.PLS.enlighten me it had been causing me a lot of angry sleepless night.
Go for it Zian! May you find freedom and peace.
ReplyDeleteit will be hard at first, saying "no". i agree that we teach people how to treat us because if not they will just abuse us. everyday i face difficult people in our office. With so many staffs around, it's really difficult to adjust with all of them. Since I am one of the pioneering employees I wanted to show to them also that they have to follow rules and regulations in the office especially that our company has a different culture they have to adjust with the foreign managers. I show to them that I am angry at them when they are across their limits/boundaries. Like yesterday, one of my colleagues who is gay and is someone who always wants attention did not stop calling my name and wants me to give my attention to him when i was having a serious discussion with other staffs about a problem in a project. I immediately told him to stop it and keep quiet as he sees that I am discussing. I wanted to let him know that we can have fun in the office laughing together at certain times of the day, but it doesn't mean that he can just chat with me the whole day because there's a work to be done in the office. When he approach me, I told him i was angry at him a moment ago, but after that, my feeling of anger was gone. It was what I intended for him to understand.
ReplyDeleteYes, i must admit I'm also a person-pleaser. I thought by doing that, I'm creating peaceful, light environment around me. But after sometime, I realized inside me it was chaos. At first, I was happy but then after catering to other's needs, I noticed I was empty. From that moment, I learned to say NO for me to grow.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bro. Bo and God bless everyone.
I'm very guilty with this.. I'm also a person pleaser but i realized that it's not really good. I was trying to please everybody by just saying yes all the time without thinking that i was letting them manipulate me and I'm losing my own identity. I really appreciate the story that you've shared it just made me realize not to say yes all the time but a NO..
ReplyDeleteThanks Bro. Bo and God bless.
I guess it has something to do with culture because the Eastern people are said to be collectivists. we value our "face" so much and if we fail we fail the whole groups where we belong. we also tend to beat around the bush so much, while the westerns a "no is a "no" and a "yes is a "yes" I learned to say no recently but the result is not favorable "for them" but it was a relief for me. Having to raise my family and work hard taking 3 or four jobs just to cover the expenses is hard enough, what is even harder is that the inlaws who are not doing anything to earn a living is actually expecting me to help them financially. The nerve! I know in my heart that this is not only wrong but it is also stupendous. I'm actually doing what his son ought to do and then... hay it's unimaginable. I am now contemplating separation or annulment. Things are not getting better and they are the ones who are angry ah.
ReplyDeleteI guess it has something to do with culture because the Eastern people are said to be collectivists. we value our "face" so much and if we fail we fail the whole groups where we belong. we also tend to beat around the bush so much, while the westerns a "no is a "no" and a "yes is a "yes" I learned to say no recently but the result is not favorable "for them" but it was a relief for me. Having to raise my family and work hard taking 3 or four jobs just to cover the expenses is hard enough, what is even harder is that the inlaws who are not doing anything to earn a living are actually expecting me to help them financially. The nerve! I know in my heart that this is not only wrong but it is also stupendous. I'm actually doing what his son ought to do and then... hay it's unimaginable. I am now contemplating separation or annulment. Things are not getting better and they are the ones who are angry ah.
ReplyDeleteYes and No are both very important words in our lives. Even God says “NO” to evildoers. We are neither men-pleasers nor self-pleasers because at the end of the day we ask the question “Did I please you Lord”. The real challenge is – Do you know what pleases Him? This is why I have great respect for people who spend every moment of their life knowing God. This includes you Bo.
ReplyDeletehi bo!!!=)
ReplyDeletei saw u just recently @ st. paul's church in davao city..
im a big fan of urs, i've been reding ur books since highschool..and now i'm a nurse..u've been one of my inspirations..ur stories rili helped me alot!!!
i bought one book so that i cud get closer for the signing..haha.. i realized after that maybe i looked stupid there..i was like looking forward to seeing freddie prinze jr, which btw, is my ultimate hollywood crush!!!so just imagine my "kilig" hahahaha..=)
tnx bo for the inspiration..inspire more people!!!
now my philosophy would be to be positive at all times... to imagine and confess positivity!!!
Godspeed!!!
Hi, Bo. It is always a breather every time I read your article or books. Life seems to be not as difficult as I think it is. Well, I guess it is us who makes life difficult.
ReplyDeleteI am a people pleaser and I grew up thinking that it's the right thing to do. Not too long ago, a I was made aware of this 'habit' and I realize how it has made life seem more complicated than it truly is. I have allowed so many people to rule my life...and much of my unhappiness stems from being a people pleaser, from wanting to be accepted. Problem is, I have trained the closest people around me to rule my life. And yes, it's even harder to make them unlearn what I taught them to be.
I am still learning how to say no and I feel rotten and very much disturbed when I do. But I believe it is part of the journey. I just have to learn to be at ease when I make 'unacceptable decisions' and believe that the people who truly love me will remain. Thanks for this reinforcement. Thank you for people like you who makes people like us feel comforted when we dare to make the necessary changes in order to be free.
hi bro Bo!,
ReplyDeleteThanks again! for that inspiring message you had given me..I'm very blessed to be one of those soul enlighten by your message every week..(",)
GOD Bless You po!........
hello bo,
ReplyDeletei have been reading your blogs this month regarding difficult people and i kept on laughing about wishing them ill or being struck by a bolt of lighting...because in time i also have thought the same
i just got out of an abusive relationship physically emotionally and financially and i do agree that despite all the pain this difficult person came into my life for a reason, to make me love myself and know my self worth.
today i have set myself free from this difficult person and have cut any form of communication, but before that, i made sure that he knew in my heart i have forgiven him for everything, its just that my lessons have been learned and his mission to make me see IS done. =)
GODBLESS BO!
Hi Bro. Bo,
ReplyDeleteI discovered that I am a people pleaser just recently for the reason that i want to be accepted by my family( especially my father's family). So, inorder to please them, I have to say YES to all their utos and pakiusap.
I worked hard for it, and its really hard because I lost my own identity. It came to a point that i want to be needed by the people around me. It gave me a feeling that I am loved. The result is not only loosing my identity but also sacrificing my own happiness. I dont love myself. Thre's this one instance that what i am praying for is for that person to need me, that i may do him a big favor.
But thank God! He use my spiritual family to make me realize that i am a child of God, i am gifted, i am loved and accepted. Its not that easy to have the paradigm shift.
And thak you also to this article. Siguro dapt naman na unahin ko munang mahalin ang sarili ko so i could share that love to others.
In Christ.
Grace
Hi! Bro. Bo
ReplyDeleteYes there are many of them in my life. There abusive to the extent that i feel they dont respect me. But sad to say this abusive is my family, i dont know how to correct of their habit of asking money and used it unnecessarily. I just hope and pray that through prayers they would realize how difficult for me to handle the situation that sometimes i give all just to give them what they demanded and sometimes nothing left for myself. A
I have to agree, I just applied it the first time. Kahit mahirap, kahit family pa. Kasi pag sa tingin mo matagal mo ng na-tolerate ang wrong na ginagawa nila sa iyo, akala nila ito ang tamang gawin.
ReplyDeleteYou are just tenderly correcting them, shaking them from their comfort zone. You want them to stand on their own, and live their own lives.
You know what, kahit na nasaktan ka sa ginawa mong pag sabi ng "NO". Kahit nasaktan mo din ang family mo, you have to pray to God to give the both of you strength to open both your hearts and minds to respect each other that the other party maybe saying no to a wrong and not to them personally.
I have to agree, I just applied it the first time. Kahit mahirap, kahit family pa. Kasi pag sa tingin mo matagal mo ng na-tolerate ang wrong na ginagawa nila sa iyo, akala nila ito ang tamang gawin.
ReplyDeleteYou are just tenderly correcting them, shaking them from their comfort zone. You want them to stand on their own, and live their own lives.
You know what, kahit na nasaktan ka sa ginawa mong pag sabi ng "NO". Kahit nasaktan mo din ang family mo, you have to pray to God to give the both of you strength to open both your hearts and minds to respect each other that the other party maybe saying no to a wrong and not to them personally.
Guess what, I'm happier!
I feel good everytime I will read your message, Bro. Bo. But this one, I just can't relate. It's because I'm the total opposite. I am the "difficult person" in almost everyone who surrounds me. I am evertything you have mentioned- Control-Freaks. Drama-Queens. Nut-Cases. Rage-aholics. Irresponsible Jerks. Hyper-sensitive people. Possessive Parasites.
ReplyDeleteAnd worst, I always say "No". I have this unwritten philosophy (work-related) of "Kung pwedeng mag-complain, magko-complain ako pero tatapusin ko pa rin ang dapat kong tapusin."
I just hope you can write something about people like me. I'll be waiting...
Brother Bo, talagang sumalamin sa aking pagkatao ang article nyo po na ito. Matagal na panahon ko pong hinayaang kutyain ako ng iilang mga tao ang aking sarili.. kadalasan ho ay hindi ako lumaban at tinanggap na lamang ang mga ito. Napalibutan din po ako ng mga kaibigan minsa\'y nakasakit sa akin at iniisip ko na lamang na kaibigan ko sila. Madalas din po ako umOO sa mga bagay bagay sa inaakalang mas matanggap nila ako pero ang dulot lamang pala nito ay destruction sa aking sarili... Natuto ako ng mga bisyo na akala ko ay magdudulot sa akin ng kasiyahan... Akala ko may mapapatunayan ako sa mga ginagawa kong ito pero hindi nagatagal naging magulo lamang ang aking pagiisip.. Muntik ng mawala ang aking pokus sa mga bagay na mas mahalaga, ang aking pag-aaral at ang aking pamilya... Mabuti na lamang at nandyan ang aking mga magulang upang maituwid ko ang lahat.. Sa mga pagtatalo namin ay doon ko narealize kung sino talaga ang nagmamahal at nagpapahalaga sa akin.. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa Panginoon at binigyan nya po ako ng pagkakataong magmature at matutunang ihandle ang ganitong mga pagkakataon. Ngayon natutunan ko nang sumalungat sa mga bagay na hindi ko talaga nais. Iniiwasan ko na rin pakibagayan ang lahat ng tao upang makatangap ng papuri.. at dahil talagang mahirap. Sa article nyo po na ito mas naging malinaw ang lahat sa akin at natutuwa po ako na tama ang pinili kong landas at makita ang pagbabago na sa aking sarili. : )
ReplyDeleteyeah!it's okay to say NO!but how about doing it to persons you love?mother teresa said that when you love, love til it hurts no more..you should not give up on somebody..it's when the going gets trough that the tough gets going!haha!yet,it's situational though..
ReplyDeleteWe have to be assertive every time we have dealings with people. That is what I learn at the book of TEEN ESTEEM: A Self Direction Manual for Young Adults. By the way, thanks for all your advices,BO. It is a great help for me who is very passive.
ReplyDeletehi bo!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and i are fanatics of your books,though we are not Roman Catholics we really admire you.thanks for all God given insights from spiritual to financial.God bless you for that bro!
siguro nga approval addict ako....i dont know how to say no to people.i cook and cooked a lot of goodies and savory dishes,maybe for people to like me.and i see to it that it really taste good or i'll be disappointed if somebody says,matabang o maalat...grrrrr..sometimes i hate myself for that.i pray that you will write a book about approval addiction that will help a lot of people out there who needed this kind of help.thanks and God bless!!!
a yes clap to this one Bro. Bo!
ReplyDeletei was able to relate myself on to this one, but i love all the articles.. i am learning and i wanna say thank you. thankyou!! ;-)
[...] came across this article from Bo Sanchez’s website. I got interested in it because it greatly speaks of myself. I am [...]
ReplyDeletei did it!! thankz bo!
ReplyDelete"You teach people how to treat you."
ReplyDeleteim just starting to read all your writings i was so amazed...and yes there are many difficult people who make our lives miserable day by day..oh my...and sometimes just to have no more discussions we say YES to the extent that we're are letting them ruined our lives...and true enough that saying NO..will not make us so bad...it's just there are things in life that we had to let go sometimes..and turned it down...thanks BRO BO you are really a great inspiration to me....i just a bought a book of yours..and im so excited to read it na
ReplyDeletei love what you wrote here brother bo. wow. very true. it's difficult to say no at times but i agree that people continue to do what they do because they can see that it's fine with us. haay. im a people pleaser but im trying to draw lines now..
ReplyDeleteGod bless you bro Bo! im inspired by you and i linked your site in my blog so that others may be inspired by you too. thanks! Peace!
I had a careful thought about my decision today and took a stand even if it might not be what others are expecting me to do, in spite of the fact that they're the ones who helped me find a job. It was difficult for me but I just kept praying that the good Lord would grant me the right words to say. I suppose God will bless them in another way for the kindness that they did. Thanks for the very fitting article, it helped me gain serenity with the move i made.
ReplyDeleteThats exactly what ive did, i have had a difficult people in my workplace and that happened to be my bosses. Im questioning his/her manner of treating his/her employee almost like a slave. and i dont take it anymore. Saying "Foul WOrds", shouting at them infront of others. i lasted for about a year and 8 months. The first-2nd week i decided to leave na, but i let myself to give it a try anyway im in my adjustment period, and just to give them a little more patience. Until day had passed. their gestures is no longer tolerable. I mean, we all make mistakes right? but then their manner of reacting to it in a negative way was so exxagirated! later i observed that its really on their attitude! its in their system na....and its really degrading to hear even if you just hear it lang, kahit hindi ikaw ang mismong involved. So i make a decision. I resigned, and i make a stand.
ReplyDeletei wish and pray n may courage din ako to say "NO"..:(
ReplyDeleteThankz po Kuya Bo..
hello bro. bo!
ReplyDeletei am a huge fan of yours since i was in highschool. i saw you at one seminar in our school, St. Mary's College (Meycauayan), that was almost 6 years ago. i've read some of your books and still plans to read the others. it's my first time to visit your site and i must say that it's really inspiring, specially this one.
i am a people-pleaser and there's this one friend whom i cannot say NO most of the time. i lived with her when i was staying in Manila and i had to deal with her every single day. i always give in to her favors, even if i really don't like it. i was just so afraid to end up with a fight with her. so i just keep things in place by being under her. i hate myself for being like that and i would like to change things now. i started to put a distance between the two of us at the same time being friends with her, still. but i still have the problem of saying NO when she asks for a favor, like going to the mall when i don't feel like going or i have something more important to do. hindi ko siya matiis most of the time, bearing in mind the friendship that we've shared. it's so hard to be in a situation like this. i hope that your article will enlighten me and be my inspiration. thanks for the words! i'll definitely bookmark your site.
It's hard for me to say no to my friends. Lagi na lang "oo" ang sagot ko sa kanila. For me, I'm just doing favors for them.
ReplyDelete"Ui, pautang naman ng 100."
--sige.
"I'll pay you na lang tomorrow ah."
--sure.
I lend her the money 'cause she has to buy something she said she NEED. Until now, wala pa rin yung 100 ko.
"Hey, busy ka ba?
-- hindi naman. bakit?
"Pwede bang ikaw na lang gumawa ng report ko?"
--(since I'm free) Sige.
Until now, ako pa rin gumagawa ng reports ng taong yan. Hindi na siya natutong gumawa ng sariling report niya.
Now that I've read this, napaisip ako. Siguro nga, I let them abuse me. I'm the one to be blamed.
Maybe this is God's plan for me stumble upon this blog entry. 'Cause lately, I feel na naaabuso na nga ako. Na sobra na ata lahat.
LAHAT PALA NG BAGAY MAY HANGGANAN.
Reading this blogs makes me enlighten on what I should do with my life. It’s really hard to say “no” lalo na pag mahal mo ung tao. May mga times na I know that I have to set boundaries but it’s really hard to tell them “no” because I might end up hurting them which also means seeing them hurt will makes me feel twice as much. But few days ago before reading this article I told myself that I have to set myself free because while I’m trying to protect and please this person I didn’t notice that I’m slowly losing myself. Yes Bro Bo it doesn’t mean that I have to end my relationship with this person but I can taught him how to value me the way that I should be. Thank you so much!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnother Title...
ReplyDeleteI saw this really good post today....