It Wasn’t About The Pizza, It Never Is.
NOTES FROM CINDY BROWN
I spent years pleasing people and didn't even realize I was doing it. Lots of: "It's fine." "I'll make it work." "Whatever you want." "No, seriously, I don't care." (I cared.)
I did this in relationships, with family, in my business, basically everywhere. I always told myself “I didn't want to rock the boat.” “I wanted everyone else to be happy.” “It’s easier.” “I wanted to fly under the radar.” (Still working on that one daily.)
What I didn't realize was that I was giving everyone else the first slice of pizza and leaving myself with the leftover crumbs. And then wondering why I felt angry, resentful, and exhausted. Duh!
Then one day we were out with my family ordering pizza. And, as usual, I said: "Whatever you guys want." But this time something hit me. I didn't want what they wanted. Now, I know. It's pizza. Not exactly a life or death decision. Or is it?
Because the pizza wasn't the problem. The problem was that I had spent years teaching myself that everyone else's wants mattered more than mine. “Don't be selfish.” “Keep the peace.” “Don't make things difficult.” Sound familiar? So that day we ordered multiple pizzas. Revolutionary, I know. Everyone got what they wanted. Including me.
And weirdly enough, nobody died. Nobody was upset. The world kept spinning. Who knew?
Sometimes the biggest changes don't start with the big things. They start with speaking up about the pizza.
