Seeking Approval?
How many of us would willingly admit that we are approval addicts? Let’s be honest with each other. Do we seek to please others and have them place their stamp of approval on our choices, our lives … on us, in general? If so, we can be referred to as “People Pleasers … or called “Approval Addicts.” I know. I have been there, and if I am completely honest, I am there right this very minute as I tap these words out on the computer … hoping that you’ll approve of my site, that you’ll like my writings and you’ll come back to visit. I am seeking to please you and to have you approve of me … right … this … very … minute.
We ALL want approval. We attempt to please people and hope to “fit in” with them. We all want people to like us, and it hurts when people reject us, don’t welcome us with open arms, or say bad things about us. It is hard to not have the approval that we seek from others around us and to not be included. But, the truth is that we do not need the approval of others because we already have the approval of the only one that really, truly matters any way – God Almighty. Believe me, I have struggled with this very thing. I know how hard it is to break the cycle and accept yourself, accept where you are, accept your walk, and accept, most importantly, that you do NOT need to seek to get from others what GOD freely gives us! We have His approval. We have His love. If God is for us, who could possibly be against us?
There will certainly be people in this life that won’t be on our side. They won’t like us, and they won’t include us. We will be rejected more times than we care to remember or than we can keep up with. It’s just a fact of life. Don’t lose hope, though, and don’t stop putting yourself out there.
I have a book that I’d like to recommend to you on this subject. I am not getting paid to promote this book or the author, but I’m doing so simply because I read the book and I could identify with the content. I was an approval addict if there ever was one. I could see myself in the words she’s written in this book in certain situations – not all of them – but I could see myself as a “People Pleaser” or an “Approval Addict.” I am a lot better about this than I used to be, thank God.
This is me … admitting that I am a recovering “Approval Addict.”
If you have the opportunity, check out Joyce Meyer’s book Approval Addiction. You’ll be glad you did!
~S
Plans
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. “ Jeremiah 29:11
My daughter is learning this bible verse in school this week. As we have studied this scripture I have really taken some time to pause and allow these words to soak into my being. They are extremely powerful words. When life seems to throw you a curve ball, God knows the plans. We may be floundering around like a fish out of water when trials come our way, but God knows the plans for each and every one of us. He has plans for us! Isn’t that exciting in and of itself? God created us with a plan and a purpose in mind. There are times when we may question exactly what purpose we serve on this earth. Maybe at some point it will be crystal clear exactly what that purpose is. At other times, we will not be so sure. At these times, as hard as it may be, please know that you would not be here, still breathing air, feeling your heart beat inside of your chest, given the gift of another day if you did not have a purpose in this world. Take comfort in the knowledge that He plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Rest in the assurance of God’s word that He plans to give you hope and a future. It will make all the difference in the world, in your outlook on life, if you will trust these words. It has for me.
~S
