I’m a people pleasure by nature. I’m not sure if it’s because I was that “middle child” or because of the wounded part of me that wants people to “just like me.”
Most of the time, I feel it serves me to be a little extra attentive, caring, supportive, and generous with people who cross my path. I feel good when I know I’ve really given someone my best, and helped them with that extra something.
Needless to say, it’s takes a lot for someone to “cross the line” with me because I really do want to help as much – and as many – as I can. But, now and then I have an experience like I did earlier this week and I get to stretch and grow by taking a stand for myself… and that line.
Here’s what happened, and what I learned. One of my subscribers to this ezine has complained to me in the past on several occasions pointing out everything I’m doing “wrong.” My wonderful assistant, Tina, has been as kind and understanding as she can be in her responses to this person. But, earlier this week when this subscriber emailed yet again tell me how much I’ve disappointed and hurt her and how she hopes there’s at least one person I have helped… my line got crossed.
So, I took a stand for myself and had Tina respond back to her letting her know we’ll be permanently unsubscribing her from the list. (I usually don’t even see these types of emails from subscribers but I was checking something in Tina’s inbox and saw this message.)
It made absolutely no sense to keep someone like that on my list just to have one more subscriber. I hold what I share here with you sacred; I value you and what happened in my community of subscribers. This person felt like they were polluting the waters here, and trying to throw her negative energy off on me. And, I wasn’t going to have anything more to do with it.
What I learned is a deeper understanding that as I grow in reach and visibility, there will be more and more people who disagree with what I share, or simply don’t like me. And, it just doesn’t matter. I’m here to fulfill my bigger purpose and I can’t be bothered by those who chose to expend their valuable energy (or mine or my teams’) with complaints.
I can’t help but think of that great quote by Dr. Seuss that says, “Those who mind don’t matter; and those who matter don’t mind.” So true!
Here’s to taking a stand for YOU! Whether it’s removing someone from your list who is a complainer, completing a relationship with a difficult client, or simply saying “no” to something you don’t want to do. Taking a stand for yourself is an act of self-love, and you deserve that in everything you do.
