“I recall an incident during my daughter Marla’s passage toward emotional liberation. She had always been the “perfect little girl” who denied her own needs to comply with the wishes of others. When I became aware of how frequently she suppressed her own desires in order to please others, I talked to her about how I’d enjoy hearing her express her needs more often. When we first broached the subject, Marla cried. “But, Daddy, I don’t want to disappoint anybody!” she protested helplessly. I tried to show Marla how **her honesty would be a gift more precious to others than accommodating them to prevent their upset**. I also clarified ways **she could empathize with people when they were upset without taking responsibility for their feelings**.” --- **Tags** -- [[quotes]], [[parenting]], [[personal-needs]], [[expressing-needs]], [[conflict]], [[crucial-conversations]], [[responsibility]], **Source** -- [[251115105628 - B - Nonviolent Communication]]