Hey JVR – first of all *hugs* .
I think it´s great you´re starting to realize that you want to be more true to yourself. I´m trying the same at the moment.
I think in all relationships we have to compromise sometimes. But if you´re the only one compromising, giving all of you – what is left for yourself? There´s a huge difference between being nice and being a doormat.
And do you really want to keep people like that in your life if they punish you simply for refusing them every now and then?
When I started saying no it created conflicts and i wont lie to you. I´ve lost some people i considered friends over that. I´m left now with a smaller group of people. But those are the ones that hopefully like me for the person I am and not because of the things i do for them. I wish you all the best of luck. You´re on the right path 🙂