#TankaTuesday #Poetry Challenge

Published on by balroop singh

People Pleasers

Bosses exult at their loyalty and sincerity. Friends mock their “loving nature.” Siblings bully them into believing that they are loved. Spouses manipulate them to get things done. The acquiescence and complacence of people pleasers baffles me. Some live in the make-believe world of self-admiration, thinking they are exceptional human beings, born to be altruistic. Others have some goals in mind, which they want to accomplish at all costs.

noble intentions
boomerang any moment
capsizes their boat
robs their identity off
tossed away by tide of life
© Balroop Singh

Thanks to Colleen’s weekly TankaTuesday challenge, ( specific form) which has inspired me to create a tanka prose. Tanka is typically written in the 5-7-5-7-7: a five-line syllabic structure. Tanka prose always contains a title. One basic requirement: one paragraph, and one tanka.

Thank you.

For more poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Here is my latest release  Hues Of Hope 

  

45 thoughts on “#TankaTuesday #Poetry Challenge”

  1. Many years ago, I used to be a people pleaser, but out of a total lack of self-esteem rather than any goals (other than survival!). It took me years to see how selfish that way of living is all around. You’ve encapsulated so much in your Tanka Prose, Balroop 💕🙂

    1. I am glad you realized the perils to your personality that are caused by being a people pleaser. Thank you for sharing it Harmony. 🤗

  3. When you are taught as a child to always try to please people, it’s hard to escape. There’s a difference between those doing it with malicious intent (to flatter, to get ahead), and those who feel anxious if they arouse displeasure because they’ve been conditioned to feel that way. (K)

    1. I am saddened to see that children were/are raised to be people pleasers. Being nice and kind affects our personality when it is taken too far. Earning somebody’s displeasure could be essential if a situation demands and if person deserves it. Too much goodness is taken as a weakness. 😊 Thank you for a thought-provoking comment.

      1. I’ve tried to shed the need myself, but I end up overcompensating which only makes me feel worse. The world still penalizes women for not being nice–see Hilary Clinton. You can’t win really.

  4. I was a people pleaser in my teens, Balroop. Like Harmony, it arose from poor self-esteem and a fear of being rejected. No more though. It’s much healthier to live with reasonable boundaries. Powerful poem, my friend.

    1. Teens look up to their parents and friends and their influence affects the development of their personalities. Some just get carried away and remain in that mold for a long time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts Diana. 🤗

  5. In my early twenties I worked with a people pleaser and watched her get taken advantage of every day. She was a great example for me of how not to be. Great poem, Balroop.

  6. I like tanka poems better than haiku. Seems to me a poet (like you) can “get in” so much more with these five lines. Oh, how easy it is to be tossed by the tides of life. ❤

  10. I have to admit I was in my forties before I quit trying to please the people around me and focus on my own emotional health instead. Insightful, Balroop ❤

  11. People pleasers, I used to be one of those long ago, putting everyone and everything ahead of me, fulfilling their wishes and hurting myself. Not anymore! Great topic and poem!

    1. I am glad you have learned to respect yourself Elizabeth. Liberation from oppressive habits is an accomplishment worth admiration. Thanks for popping in to share your thoughts.

  12. Wise and wonderful words that I think we can all relate to in one way or another, Balroop ~ but your verse holds something deeper which affects me deeper as well, how to move beyond the strange grip pleasing others can have on our lives. Beautiful post ~ and I love the title of your new book, that is awesome 🙂

    1. I have seen a lot of people pleasers, many get tossed from one end to another. They don’t seem to have any self-respect or it becomes a habit… whatever their reasons, I could never admire them. Thank you for sharing your lovely thoughts Randall.

  13. I haven’t heard of tanka prose, Balroop, with the paragraph and the tanka, so it’s great to learn something new. Wonderful poem, too. It’s sad to know some people strive to please others no matter what. Everyone deserves to have self-respect, but everyone also has their own story. So, it’s not always clear just where the pleasing stems from and if the person has a supportive circle to help remove themselves from that behavior and mindset. Your post is perfect for bringing awareness to this topic.

    1. I’ve learned to write many new forms after I started taking up the challenges of Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday. Syllabic poetry no longer scares me! 😀 Thank you for sharing your thoughts Lauren.

  16. Poignant tanka prose. And very relatable. I find there is always that person or people I want to please, but I never do it at the expense of honesty.

    1. Thank you Jude for sharing an honest thought. People pleasers deny that they like to please… probably that is woven into their DNA! 😀

  18. Hi
    Enjoyed this post
    I wanted to say thanks for the comment on DWP’s interview – and I’ll be replying soon over there but wanted to leave you a note to say I am ordering your book today
    The one Jacqui reviewed!
    I will keep you posted but wanted to let you know that I am eager to read your work and feel honored to have been featured with you on J’s blog!
    Hope you have a great day
    Yvette

    1. Wow! Thank you so much Yvette. Welcome to Emotional Shadows, I am delighted to meet you and love your enthusiasm for poetry. Happy reading.

  19. And one more thing I noticed about people pleasers is that they have anger issues or problems with frustration – maybe quiet resentment or even buried emotions because the people pleasing mode doesn’t lead to health
    It can be a varied as you noted here – and relates to wiring- past hurts – upbringing – funk phases of life – etc
    And for some it can serve then we’ll but I know a few and they have a bit of a mess inside because of it!
    Your post was so good

    1. Thank you for sharing your insights Yvette, you are so right about their own issues, which make them what they are. Emotions do play havoc with the personality of people.

      1. My niece, older now, struggled with this “acquiesce” and please mentality but then felt “smushed under a door mat” after a while.

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