The people pleaser archetype

By Amanda Green Coaching

18 Aug 2022

Firstly, it’s not all bad having the people pleaser archetype!

It can indicate that you are someone who prefers peaceful and harmonious environments and interactions with others.

We need these aspects in a group (business or family)!

It can mean that you enjoy praise, being of service and giving to others.

These are perfectly normal, healthy, receptive, generous and positive human traits.

Those with the people pleaser archetype can be experts at providing a high-quality service.

They might be naturally good at taking care of, listening to, and understanding people.

They are often hard working and make wonderful employees and team members.

So then, where does it go haywire…?!

Like anything in our lives, a balance of sorts is required, otherwise we harbour an imbalance. If there is no imbalance, there is no problem!

Wherever there is an overcompensation for something or a dominant force that is subconsciously driven, there is frequently an opposite effect taking place (this is how the shadow operates).

This connects to the universal law of balance and the law of cause and effect.

The archetypes we operate with also dictate who and what we draw towards us or attract, whether that be clients, romantic partners, friends, managers, or opportunities.

This connects to the universal law of vibration and attraction or reflection / mirroring.

When the people pleaser archetype is operating in its shadow form or from a place of fear, it causes the individual major problems!

In this form, it can be supressing other parts of the individual that are yet to be expressed or owned.

It can dominate to the point that some people live in an almost permanent state of anxiety, become depressed or even physically ill (more on this later).

This is because it undermines self-esteem, expression, truth, authenticity, autonomy and self-respect.

Some people will base all their decision making on pleasing others.

It may look ‘nice’, and some may convince themselves that it makes them feel good or it’s the right thing to do.

But it can cause major blockages with low grade feelings of festering resentment, bitterness and victimhood.

Putting yourself last all the time (which is different to fair compromise) can stem from and / or lead to low self-worth.

Being a chronic people pleaser usually means a struggle with establishing healthy boundaries with others.

It is our archetypes that control our boundaries!

With this archetype, boundaries can be trampled because of an inability to assert oneself in a healthy and rational manner.

This can be due to a fear of confrontation and / or the avoidance of direct and open communication.

It can also create problematic relationships, because ironically pleasing other people all the time doesn’t create happy fulfilling relationships in business or at home.

In the surface, it may appear to benefit one person, but ultimately it doesn’t work. The best and healthiest relationships are win-win.

If our behaviour comes from fear or an inauthentic place, then you are not really being honest about what you really need or want or are happy with. It is a false representation.

It is also for some, a subconscious method of controlling other people and the environment. It can become a form of manipulation!  

We train people how to treat us with our behaviour. Our behaviour stems from our deep beliefs about ourselves and other people.

Some have learned to be a people pleaser from a very young age and so it is a deeply ingrained trait and linked to survival programming.

Again, it’s not all wrong to want to please people, more of that in the world would be wonderful!

However, the scales of balance are tipped over to an unhealthy level when the need to please or to keep others happy directly connects to feeling safe or loved and goes against your truth.

It is imbalanced when the need to please it is greater than the ability to love or respect yourself.

Then you are giving your personal power away and you are at the mercy of the integrity (or lack of!) the other person.

This can also become transactional because often, an unspoken contract is created in relationships.

One example of many possible scenarios is:

“I will compromise myself, my desires and opinions in favour of yours, so long as you provide me with praise, don’t get angry and protect me (love me, don’t hurt me).”

This is different to wanting to make people happy and including yourself in the process.

People with this archetype often feel drained, tired, exhausted or depressed without knowing why.

It is draining suppressing your own opinions, views, voice, needs and desires and aspects of yourself that you might not have discovered yet.

It is exhausting denying yourself (because you have an inner battle occurring) of your full range of communication skills, dreams and potential.

It is also draining to live in fear (prolonged stress, anxiety).

It can be a mask that has been work for so long that it can feel very difficult to change and scary, that is very normal but it’s a better kind of fear to work with.

Which would you rather have?

Being afraid to change and so remaining that way for life…or being afraid while you change (more short-term)….?!

it’s very hard to thrive and lead a fulfilling life in fear of upsetting other people or being rejected.

We all need love and validation, that’s perfectly normal but not at the cost of self-love, health, integrity, of being who we really are or growing and developing.

We need to love ourselves enough and recognise our equality to others.

Constantly needing to please others at the cost of your true needs and desires is not only draining but it’s dishonest.

Sorry to share these truth bombs if you don’t already know them. I have taken a long and hard look at myself over the past few years of my transformational journey and I saw the truth and changed.

That is why it doesn’t feel good to people please even when we convince ourselves it does or that rather it relieves the fear temporarily.

Our body / our energy loves the truth. When we work against it, there are problems (physical, emotional, mental or spiritual).

It doesn’t feel good to the soul (the ego is a different story!) to position ourselves as lower (or higher for that matter) than others.

Over time, any patterns that cause repetitive strain on the nervous system in the form of stress, anxiety, worry or depression can lead to an energy imbalance in the body.

Fatigue related Illnesses as well as auto immune disease, fibromyalgia and various cancers to name a few are linked to people pleasing. Of course there are other reasons for these too, nothing is exclusive.

My intention is not to frighten anyone, but I guess it is a good incentive to start to change…as well as meeting destiny!

The reality is that our body and mind are always in constant conversation.

Guilt and shame are two common emotions connected to people pleasing.

It’s an insecure position. The great new is that we can is transform the emotional body and we can re-wire the mind!

Recognising any pattern of behaviour as something that isn’t helpful for us is a positive start.

Change is possible.

Recognition and acceptance are powerful first steps. Congratulate yourself if you are there!

When I refer to acceptance, what I mean is accepting that it has been causing you a problem up until this point, not accepting that there is nothing that you can do about it, because that’s not true.

It is not our fault that we have archetypes that can cause issues, we also have archetypes that are gifts, and we can transform the people pleaser into the gift that it is meant to be.

It can be a challenging archetype to have, particularly if you are in a management or leadership position or if you are starting a business.

Talking helps but talking with someone who won’t judge, is neutral and understands how to change things is healing and transformative.

If you struggle with the disease to please and you would like to make changes that will serve every area of your life positively, give me a call or an email.

Good Vibes, Amanda

Latest news

1

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston Momentum

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston

25 Jul 2025

2

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards Ben Garland and Julia Lorente

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards

24 Jul 2025

3

Work is set to start on Multiversity project Multiversity Blackpool

Work is set to start on Multiversity project

24 Jul 2025

4

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft Typhoon production Warton

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft

23 Jul 2025

5

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C EDF Assystem

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C

22 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech
July PTC banner long updated.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin