False Self

What Is “Preference Falsification?”

Preference falsification is the act of misrepresenting your true preferences or beliefs to align with social expectations or avoid conflict or disapproval. It occurs when individuals publicly express opinions or preferences that differ from their private ones, often out of fear of judgment, punishment, or social ostracism. Who Coined the Term? The term preference falsification … Read more

Most of Us Are Living In the Past

“The past is not dead. It’s not even past” — William Faulkner Most of us, most of the time live in and through the past. The past isn’t what happened back then. It’s the neural networks we groove into our brains about what happened to us. The past we live in is the meaning we … Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Ending People Pleasing

Introduction: Are You Tired of Being a People-Pleaser? Well, the ultimate guide to ending people pleasing can help. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of putting others’ needs above your own, saying “yes” when you want to say “no,” or constantly seeking approval, you’re not alone. People-pleasing is more than just a habit; … Read more

Be The Author of Your Own Life

Have you ever felt like an actor in a play that someone else wrote? Like you’re performing a role for approval, acceptance, or peace? This is a heavy script to carry. To boot, your life is then a performance. In somebody else’s script. It’s a performance of the lines and the part that you think … Read more

The Hazards of Acquiescence

I once heard someone describe people-pleasing as living with a silent apology for wanting anything different from others. The word “acquiesce” comes to mind. To surrender or submit—an impulse many people-pleasers know well. (Properly understood, surrender – to what is – is a good thing, but I’m talking about capitulation). The pressure to yield to … Read more

Bruce Sanguin

Psychotherapist