While I agree with the implications of the sentiment “a person can only do to you what you allow them to," and "teach people how to treat you," I am simultaneously wary of them.
This statement can be a bit misleading. Communicating and being vocal about your standards (which I DO agree with) does NOT magically obligate a man (or anyone for that matter) to conform to your expectations, wants, or needs in a relationship.
People are who they are. Unfortunately, not everyone you meet or date will be in a position to give you what you want or need. If a man, for example, never learned the art or importance of active listening (an important trait to me), me telling him I love an active listener (or even teaching him how to actively listen to me) is not a fool-proof way to get him to transform into the listener I need.
I DO believe that YOU decide what you will tolerate from the people in your life; ultimately I alone can decide if I am being treated worthily by those in my life, and if I choose to withstand that treatment. You have the power to dismiss those who you feel don't treat you with the respect you deserve at any moment.
I say all this to say (in this unintentional essay ) that it is important to understand that most people you meet will not be in a position to give you want, need, or deserve. And that is okay. That expectation, or lack therefore, has helped me to not take it personally when my standards go unmet. Instead, I chalk it up to fate, dust my hands off, and keep it moving.
I'm sad to say I have been a doormat most of my life ... I need To make a change ... That original post was brutal but so real ... I deserve to be treated with respect
That has been my problem as well....I learned so late in life that I was a doormat. All those years I thought I was just being nice and it was the norm...so i always thought the problem was in the guy. I have literally had to unlearn my past behaviors and it's still a work a progress.
What steps did you take to change?
It's hard for me to answer this because I'm still working on it; sometimes I'll do awesome for many months and then all of a sudden have an emotional setback, but I learned to not be so hard of myself and just let that moment run it's course and move on. Here's a few things that have helped me though and please excuse that my points are all over the place. Some things are hard to put into words and most of them are inner experiences.
Therapy helped a lot. Learning about Codependency was like unlocking a door to a room I had been trapped in for decades. By unloading a lot of deep inner issues I have been able to make room for my true self and lessen the need to be a people pleaser or the need to seek validation in order to feel good about myself. Not a comfortable subject but definitely worth it in the end.
Another thing I do that helps is that I take a little time before making a decision. My wanting to be a pleaser and nurturing person meant that I always said Yes and signed myself up for anything; sometimes it was good, but many times I felt used, bitter, resentful or empty in the end. So by holding off on saying yes, or holding off on putting myself in certain situations, it has allowed me to give matters some thought BEFORE I do it or say it. As a result, I have avoided many situations that I ordinarily would have put myself in in the past. Examples include, giving out my number, agreeing to hanging out or being set up with someone, doing favors for someone I barely know, etc....Learning to say No has been the best thing ever. It sounds corny, but I feel so empowered when I say no, lolll, Not in a stank way, but when I hear me actually stand up for myself by saying NO to something and NOT feel obligated to explain myself thereafter, it is one of the best feelings ever!
Pamper and baby myself. Not just beauty wise. But overall, when I engage myself in things that help me learn, grow, relax, stay healthy, etc, I feel elevated and productive and I'm less likely to let anyone walk over me because I'm too busy doing things that cannot be interrupted by the nonsense of a person who doesn't contribute, support, or further elevate me.
Last but least, prayer and Bible reading. When you struggle to find your own value due to childhood experiences or past experiences, it helps to read about the one who created me and how much he loves; how he proves his love for me as an individual and learning what he plans to do about a lot of things that make me sad or disappointed in life. Feelings of hope replace my feelings of helplessness...so I have come to enjoy bible reading and prayer to keep that inner reservoir full (especially for those times when I get a little drained or off track emotionally)
I discovered a quote that rocked my world earlier this year. "God lives in you, as you." I don't remember who said it but thank you whoever it was. Similar to what Marianne Williamson said, who am I not to be brilliant, gorgeous, rich, and super intelligent? Who am I to allow others to treat me badly? To abuse and walk all over me? To choose not to defend myself? My job is to protect me, be all I can be, shine as brightly as possible, and love and respect myself completely. All because God lives in me at all times.
*iPhone Clapping Hands emoji*One of the killers for a lot of women is neediness. This can be so dangerous in relationships because men generally speaking do not like it, they feel suffocated and controlled.
As a woman you have to be confident in yourself, have your own friends and your own interests away from your relationship. Don't be so dependant on him and constantly checking your phone looking for texts and updates from him. It's not particularly attractive.
It's hard cause I was like this throughout my 20s and early 30s, I had to work on myself to change.