7 Reasons People Take Advantage of You — And How to Reclaim Your Power

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve felt what it’s like to be taken advantage of on your own skin.

You know that sinking feeling when someone crosses your boundaries or uses you without giving much in return?

It’s frustrating, confusing, and sometimes plain exhausting. 

But here’s the thing: Understanding why people end up using you is the first step toward reclaiming your power, and creating healthier, more respectful relationships.

Together, we’ll explore 7 spiritual, behavioral, and subconscious factors that keep us stuck in patterns of being used.

And, most importantly, how to step back into your power without guilt or shame!

1. Allowing People to Take Advantage Due to a Need for Approval

Many of us desire to be liked and accepted, that’s totally human. 

But sometimes, this desire morphs into overextending ourselves for others’ approval, often without realizing it.

Cuando prioritize everyone’s needs above your own and say ‘yes’ to every request regardless of your happiness, it’s like handing out free passes for others to take advantage.

Spiritually, this behavior stems from a core belief that your worth is tied to how much your give or how much others like you.

If you grew up in an environment where love was conditional, you might subconsciously carry that belief into adulthood.

This subconscious blueprint creates a pattern where your boundaries become blurred, and others sense they can push you around without consequences.

Behaviorally, this manifests as people-pleasing tendencies, difficulty saying ‘no’, and feeling guilty when you do set boundaries.

To reclaim your power, start recognizing that your worth isn’t dependent on others’ opinions. Remember, true approval comes from within.

Once you validate yourself, others will follow suit.

2. Unconsciously Avoiding Confrontation Because of Fear

We all know that confrontation can lead to conflict, rejection, or abandonment. As a result, we avoid standing up for ourselves, even when we’re being taken advantage of.

Spiritually, this avoidance can be linked to a fear of disconnection from the divine or higher self. There’s an underlying belief that if we speak up, we’ll be punished.

This fear can stem from past experiences where speaking your truth led to pain or disappointment.

Behaviorally, this manifests as passive-aggressive tendencies, bottling up resentment, or silently enduring mistreatment.

In some cases, it can lead to an individual taking their anger out on friends or family members who are innocent, projecting the anger onto them.

The good news is, facing this fear is possible. Start small! Practice speaking your truth in safe environments, like with friends or in journaling. These baby steps can lead you to embracing assertiveness.

When you reclaim your right to be heard, others will have no choice but to respect you or leave.

3. Operating From a Subconscious Belief That You’re Not Worthy

Everyone carries hidden beliefs about their worthiness – often inherited from family, society or past experiences. They keep us stuck in patterns of being used.

If you secretly believe you’re not deserving of respect, love, or fairness, you’ll subconsciously attract situations that confirm this belief.

Spiritually, this ties into the concept of self-love and self-acceptance. 

When you see yourself as unworthy, it’s like sending out a signal that you’re easy to take advantage of because you don’t expect better.

Behaviorally, it can look as accepting unfair treatment, or staying in toxic relationships. 

The key to shifting this pattern is to work on your self-love consciously. Practice daily affirmations, and surround yourself with people with positive influences that reinforce your value.

Therapy, meditation, and inner work are also great ways to get past this. 

When you start to see yourself as deserving of kindness, others will treat you accordingly, and you power will naturally rise.

4. Ignoring Your Intuition & Inner Guidance

Our intuition is a powerful spiritual tool that alerts us when something’s off – yet many of us so easily ignore it.

When you dismiss your inner voice, you become more susceptible to manipulation because you’re not listening to the subtle signs that someone might have bad intentions.

Spiritually, this comes down to disconnect from your inner self. This leads to relying solely on external cues, which can easily lead to people taking advantage of you.

Behaviorally, this leads to ignoring red flags or gut feelings. Subconsciously, you might believe your feelings are invalid or irrational, so you suppress them. 

Reclaiming your power involves reconnecting with your intuition regularly. Meditation, mindfulness and journaling are great tools to start with.

Your inner guidance is your most reliable protector. Learning to listen and act on it is a poweful step towards healthier relationships.

5. Giving Away Your Energy Through People-Pleasing

People-pleasing isn’t just about saying ‘yes’. It’s also about giving away your energy, time and emotional resources to keep others happy. 

When you prioritize others’ needs over your own, you’re effectively giving away your power. 

Spiritually, this pattern is linked to a desire to be loved unconditionally, but it can backfire because it’s rooted in codependency. 

You might believe that your worth depends on how much you do for others.

Behaviorally, this manifests as overcommitment, neglecting self-care, and feeling resentful and drained. This dynamic invites others to take advantage because they sense you’re always available.

To reclaim your power, start by recognizing that saying ‘no’ is a way of honoring your energy. This will create space for reciprocal, genuine relationships where your boundaries are respected.

6. Holding Onto Past Trauma & Resentments

Unhealed wounds from past experiences often shape how we relate to others.

When you carry unresolved trauma, you might unconsciously expect betrayal or mistreatment, which makes you more prone to being taken advantage of.

Spiritually, this blocks your ability to fully love and trust yourself and others.

It keeps you in a cycle of fear and vulnerability, making it difficult to set firm boundaries or recognize your worth.

Behaviorally, this leads to passive-aggressive behaviors or emotional withdrawal, both of which weaken your ability to stand in your power. 

Healing is essential here. Therapy, energy work, and inner child healing can free you from these old patterns. 

Practicar el perdón – both to others and yourself – to release emotional baggage.

7. Feeling Guilty for Prioritizing Yourself

Guilt is a sneaky emotion that keeps many of us from asserting ourselves.

If you’ve been conditioned to believe that putting yourself first is selfish or wrong, you might hesitate to set boundaries, even when it’s necessary.

Spiritually, guilt often comes from separation from divine love. Feeling guilty when taking care of yourself is like blocking the flow of divine energy and love that’s always there.

Behaviorally, guilt leads to overcompensation. You give more, you sacrifice your needs, and tolerate mistreatment, all so you don’t feel bad or selfish.

The subconscious belief that your needs are less important than others’ keeps you disempowered, inviting toxic people to take advantage.

Reclaiming your power involves embracing self-compassion, and understanding that self-care isn’t egocentric – it’s necessary.

Guilt may come up at first, but with practice, you’ll come to see that prioritizing yourself makes you stronger, not weaker.