As someone with more than a few stereotypical Libra friends with the classic Libra traits — and a couple of Libra placements myself (shout-out to my rising and Mars) — I’ve seen firsthand how the sign’s supposed strengths can come with their own set of struggles. Sure, Libras are said to be the ultimate peacemakers, all about balance and harmony in their relationships. But that same drive to keep the peace can quickly spiral into people pleasing, indecision, and sometimes losing sight of their own needs entirely.
And if you’ve heard whispers that people with Libra traits can be a little fake, well, there’s a reason: Astrology subscribers will tell you that this charismatic sign thrives on approval and can get tangled up in seeking love at the expense of being their true selves.
But let’s be fair (we’re talking about judicious Libra, after all): You don’t need to be born between late September and mid-October (or believe in the zodiac) to deal with conflict avoidance, decision paralysis, or craving validation. We’ve all been there. So whether you’re a Libra or just guilty of acting like one now and then, here are some tips to help make your life a little easier.
1. Recognise and interrupt the fawn response.
You may not have heard of “fawn” as one of your potential stress responses, which also include the famous fight, flight, and freeze. “A fawn response is basically just pleasing and appeasing to avoid conflict and ensure safety,” Maggie Jones Boyle, a therapist based in Kansas, tells us. “When you’re fawning, you lose track of what you’re actually feeling in that moment. You’re too busy saying whatever you think will make the other person happy or make you come across as friendly and likeable.”
According to Jones Boyle, simple awareness of this tendency — which Libra types are known for — is sometimes enough to reverse course (though tip number four below will probably come in handy too). How do you spot it in action? She recommends paying attention to how it feels in your body when you’re avoiding conflict, big or small — like when you insist to your partner something was NBD when you were actually hurt or when you tell your date that, yes, you totally love that podcast (that you just couldn’t get into) too. For example, your voice may get higher, your smile might feel strained or forced, and your energy could feel scattered or maybe even out-of-body, like you’re watching yourself perform.
When you notice yourself smoothing over a social situation at your own expense, Jones Boyle says to take a moment to pause, breathe, and reconnect with how you actually feel before responding. “What do you want to say and do that aligns authentically with who you are?” she asks — versus automatically acting however you think will keep the peace or make the other person happy.
2. Tune into your body to overcome indecisiveness too.
On the plus side, Libras are known for seeing all sides of a situation, which, unfortunately, is an easy way to overthink everything and become indecisive as hell. “As an air sign — which are all about the mind and intellect — Libras tend to spend a lot of time in their heads instead of their bodies,” Jones Boyle says. To cut through decision paralysis, she recommends tuning into your body again, this time by using a technique called “felt sense awareness,” which is essentially an immersive gut check that involves visualising each choice in detail and observing your emotional and physical responses.