No Need to Please, Just be Pleasant

When you walk down the street, you see someone or another is trying to make an impression. The way people walk, talk, and dress all involve portraying a particular image about themselves. If you’ve noticed, there are some people who go out of the way to make a good impression. Or in other words, they go out of their way to please others, to some extent.

On the other hand, you see others who seem overly indulgent. They don’t really seem to care what anyone thinks, as long as they get what they want. Or in other words, they go out of their way to make sure that they are pleased. So, what is this need to please others or the need to be pleased yourself?

When we’re talking about being pleased, we’re talking about receiving a certain amount of pleasure by manufacturing a certain amount of pleasantness. Much of the drama around us is to create these small pockets of pleasantness. This is because the feeling of pleasantness is not on within us or around us. This shows that we’re not able to live life to its fullest. Let’s hear what Sadhguru, a realized yogi, has to say about pleasing ourselves.

Sadhguru:“If you make yourself utterly pleasant, you will deal with the world to the best of your ability, and that is all we can do. Whether you stand on your feet or on your head, you can deal with it only to the extent that you are capable. Bur if you are very pleasant, there is very little dealing involved, and you will see relationship is not a problem wherever you go. Because when you are very pleasant, people around you will make everything happen for you. Really! If you are truly pleasant, everyone will take care of you.

See, I travel around the world without a rupee, or a pound, or a dollar in my pocket. Wherever I land, I am well taken care of. Why are these people doing this? I am not going to give them a million because they give me a dollar today. It is just that when you are in the company of utter pleasantness, you also become pleasant. And that is what everyone is seeking, isn’t it? To be pleasant within themselves, to be pleasant around themselves.

You do not have to please anyone. Don’t ever imagine the flowers are trying to please you or anyone. They do not care a hoot for you. But it is their nature to be pleasant, so they are pleasant. Because they are pleasant we want them around. If you are pleasant, everyone would want you around, that is all. You do not have to deal with them, you do not have to be pleasant to people. You do not have to try to be sweet to anyone. If you are just pleasant, whichever way you are, it is fine.”