Helping our patients to balance the polarity between following our values and the values of others

I often see folks in my clinical practice who struggle with the need to “over please” others.

It’s difficult for them to conform to “social norms and pressures”, and at the same time, stay true to who they are authentically.

It’s can be a real ongoing struggle for them.

If one lives a life based on the values of others, this is better for “pleasing others” and creating more outer/social harmony.

If one lives a life based on one’s values, this is better for creating more inner harmony.

The challenge is to reconcile or balance the polarity between following the “inner values”, and following the “outer values”.

Fulfilling one will often come at a cost of the other.

One of the aim of counseling is to help folks balance and reconcile the above.