I made the rule that whenever I caught myself thinking of him, I had to take a moment to pray for someone else.

This is brilliant!

You know I love to help! ;)

I see what you did there.

Yes, it is surely a lesson I can use as well. I hadn't heard it phrased "holding on to that resentment is letting someone who wronged you live rent-free in your head" before. There are a whole lot of better things to have in my head than poison relationships.

I needed to read all this today. Down on myself and frustrated with clients. bonny, I hope you got some good, healing sleep.

You know I love to help! ;)

I see what you did there.

Me too.

I didn't actually sleep much, smonster, but I did get very relaxed by Epic's suggestion.

Later, I went see the massage therapist/healer from last week who validated every single thing said here. (without me telling her how awesome/insightful you all are)

She really stressed exactly what Typo said with regards to waiting before saying yes to anything. Plus, that there is a middle ground between letting people take advantage of me and being a banshee.

When we were done, she began changing the sheets on her table. Unconsciously, I leaned over to help finish the sheet. She shrieked at me, "STOP HELPING!, I'm here to help you."

Honestly. I don't even know how.

You are helping people by allowing them to be helpful and useful, and returning the million gestures of friendship you have extended to them over the course of your relationship.

And since avoiding the instant yes is new to you, let me warn you about ways takers will try to undermine it and one good counter. When you mention that you need to think about it (check your calendar or whatever other reason you give) they will try and pressure you into an immediate answer. They may claim a planning deadline, or just imply that a real friend would not have to think about such a simple choice. The counter should be (and I know this will be hard) that if they need an instant answer, the answer is "No". And you will needed to mean it. And I know that is really hard for you. But if someone won't give you time to think, it is because there is a catch they are afraid you will spot. So anyone asking a favor should be give two and only two choices: give you time to think, or accept an instant "No". A really superb negotiator taught me that about business deals, but it works in personal and emotional transactions as well. Objection to your taking time to think is a sign that the asker knows that they are asking is not fair. So "time to think" or "the instant answer is no" should be a hard and fast rule. I mention this because I guarantee that pretty early on in your implementing your new "no instant yes" policy, somebody will try and pressure you into giving an immediate answer. And now you are prepared for this. If you are not sure what I am telling you is important, leave a message for your therapist. I'm pretty sure she will agree.

Oh, God, guilt. My least favorite. But people have done it to me so often, it makes my heart instantly hard, which is probably not fair either.

Well the point is not necessarily guilt. They may claim a deadline or use some other pressure point. The key is that any attempt to pressure for an instant answer should be met by an instant "no". That applies whether guilt is the means of pressure or not. Though I would say attempting to use guilt to get a yes, even if not instant, is another good reason for saying no.

Of course, I guess I read the "real friend" bit.

bonny, listen to Typo and erika. They are wise.

You are helping people by allowing them to be helpful and useful, and returning the million gestures of friendship you have extended to them over the course of your relationship.

How often have you given people the chance to help you when your back wasn't against the wall? The people who care about you take satisfaction from doing nice things for you. Give them the gift of that satisfaction.