David Hoffmeister's ACIM Blog: Fear and Control in Relationship. It’s Time to Stop People Pleasing

"The more the ego is exposed and raised into awareness the less it is likely to be believed. Relationships which involve dependency, demands, and expectations are witnesses to the ego. Our shared Purpose will show that the ego is not real and that you are not the ego. One way the ego seems to maintain guilt is through people pleasing or looking for external agreement. This defense seems to smooth out the rough edges of a 'relationship' between persons, though it actually keeps a lid on the guilt underneath and serves to hide and protect it."
https://livingmiraclescenter.org/news-blog/blog/93-people-pleasing-control-and-relationship-move-into-holy-relationship-david-hoffmeister.html