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Christl Buskohl

Slave of People's Approval

  • Another to share...by Daxx Bondoc

    Are you constantly trying to prove to others that you are “good enough?”

    We must admit that most of our actions are motivated to win the acceptance and admiration of our peers. There is something about pleasing people that pleases us.

    Most of the time, it is our personal insecurities that cause this “I need to be good enough for you” mentality. One psychologist said that to even entertain this “I need to be good enough” debate in your head is already a choice to go to the path of unhappiness. For you will never be good enough in your mind. You will always find something that you need to be “good enough” to please others.

    To live in the mercy of other’s approval and acceptance is like building your life on shifting sands. People’s opinions are fickle. They love you today and then hate you tomorrow. We can see this with movie stars and music artist. Here today and gone tomorrow. Putting the direction of your life at other’s hands is to miss out your own life.

    We need to learn to accept ourselves. Even those things we do not like in ourselves. Accepting does not mean liking what you see, but accepting that they are real. If you have a bad temper, you do not need to like your bad temper. But you must accept that you have one!

    Only when we accept ourselves for who we really are can we start to grow. We must accept our strengths and also our weakness, the good and the bad in us. Only when we can look at ourselves objectively can we start changing those aspects of our lives that need improvements.

    We must first win the approval of ourselves. I approve of me! Yes I approve of me because God approves of me. If God did not approve of me, I would not even be here.

    If you want to win the approval of others, win the approval of the God first. God approves of your creation, but do you think He approves on how you are living your life right now?

    But why do we want God’s approval on our lives?

    Because we want joy!

    Happiness can only be found when we are in line with God’s plan for our lives.

    “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come, share your master's joy.”  Mt 25:23

2 comments
  • Rev. Walter Rosenthal
    Rev. Walter Rosenthal This is so right on. As a therapist, new clients would often ask about how our work would change them. I would always respond by saying my job is not to assist you in changing, but to accept who you are.
    May 24, 2012 - 1 likes this
  • Christl Buskohl
    Christl Buskohl I remember being told that in order to do my profession well, I have to be okay with people leaving my office the EXACT same way they walked in. The choice is THEIRS to change, not mine to change them.
    May 24, 2012 - 1 likes this