In my therapy groups yesterday, several people discussed how helpful it was to realize that you’re not responsible for other people’s feelings.
These group members are empathic people who care about others and their feelings, but there is a big difference between empathizing with others’ feelings and believing that you are responsible for them.
At the end of the group, I shared that I sometimes feel guilty about taking time off for my vacations because people in my groups let me know how much they are going to miss me. It felt good acknowledging those feelings and I following suit by saying, “I’m going to miss you all the last two weeks in August and … I’m not responsible for your feelings.” My feeling was that the group members enjoyed and learned from the sharing in the group about responsibility.
I’m not responsible for your feelings about my images for today, but I hope that they are positive ones.
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The Daily Bitch and I are not responsible for each other’s feelings.
Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “you’re not responsible for other people’s feelings.”
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I’m not responsible for your feelings but I’m eager to know whatever feelings and thoughts you choose to share, below.
You are not responsible for my feelings and I am feeling gratitude for you!
wish I could learn this.
You’re on your way.
I’m not responsible for feelings on your side of the blog, Ann, but my nature can’t keep me from wondering if your place of business could not hook up your group with a replacement therapist for your vacation weeks if they requested that.
Yes, Mark, and I have found a responsible person to do that for one day each week.
Fantastic, Ann.
I try to consider people’s feelings and it is sometimes difficult for me to know the difference between doing that and taking responsibility for them.
I agree, Maureen. I suppose that is why I often go way out of my way to give some people a break, so that when I finally decide that I’m not responsible for their feelings, I believe myself. 🙂
That’s difficult for a lot of people — I would say the clue is being aware of the difference between feeling empathy and feeling guilt/feeling like you need to do something to fix things.