I’ve always been someone who’s really easy to please. I like doing things that make others happy and I’m typically ok with setting aside my own wants for others. I also tend to think pretty optimistically and don’t like to have a lot of needs. I always thought of this as being selfless and easy to get along with. Which I liked. Until I started hearing things like, “You know, you don’t always need to tell me what I want to hear” when asked for honest feedback and I said, “I thought it was fine!” Or when I was told, “We’d like you to revamp this system and make it totally your own.” To which I inwardly freak outa and think, “I have no idea what ‘my own’ would even look like!” 😳 And then I realized, that not having a strong opinion was actually making me not very helpful, not a great friend, and definitely not helping me make anything better. I realized how much of this “easy to please”-ness had permeated so much in my life. From ignoring red flags 🚩 in relationships, to not always providing helpful ideas at work, and simply not speaking up in general. I used to believe that “critical thinking” was a trait that pessimists and negative people possessed 😂. It was useful, but just not my thing. And then I realized - WOW, everyone needs to be a critical thinker. By asking questions, making valid points, and sharing our opinions, we make each other better. Of course, there are better and worse ways to share your ideas and opinions😂, but we can get into that later. What I want to leave you with now is the idea that your critical thinking and opinions are necessary and helpful to those around you. Don’t be afraid to speak up and share. You have a place at the table! http://liketk.it/2IDHp @liketoknow.it #liketkit