Hands up anyone who thinks they are too nice?

This last week has been a challenging one for me.

Certain people set off the train of thought in my mind that perhaps I am just too nice to others for my own good and actually some people to whom I was nice didn't really like it or appreciate it.

A very good friend told me I was too nice and should step back a bit and not always try to please.

A close family member told me that practically everything she had in her house, I had bought for her and she had too much and to stop buying. My husband of course loved to hear this.

These two people might be right but what they didn't know (through no fault of their own, I just hadn't explained it to them) was the reason why I was too nice and tried to please.

I think it all stems from a feeling of inadequacy on my part. I have away felt wrongly or rightly that I don't contribute much in terms of humour or light heartedness and am too serious overall. So I tend to be a pleaser and to make up for the lack of normal skills, which other people who don't suffer from depression or low moods seem to posses quite naturally, I am just nice.

I am going to try to stand back a little and not exactly turn into a not nice person but not try so hard to please. The family member who spoke in haste to me but was probably right, may miss the thoughtful practical things I buy her but at least I will give her the chance and space to miss them.

Do others think they are too nice? Any advice would be gratefully received on my part. I don't want or can't undergo a complete personality change but I do think it's time for a slight change in my behaviour. I don't think I can change my low moods but I may be able to make this small alteration to my constantly wanting to be nice (so boring!), to buy to make up for perceived inadequacies and to please.

Jul

A Moodscope member.