When our parents are people pleasers and they are unable to satisfy their own needs, we learn to disregard our needs, too. We are not taught to stand up for our rights and ask for help when we need it. We look up to our parents for guidance, but sometimes what they teach us is not beneficial, but rather only rules and rituals passed down by our ancestors through the generations. For example, when parents tell their children not to cry and not feel angry, they are not acknowledging the children’s feelings and teaching them how to manage their emotions. Many of us learn to protect ourselves by
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