If you need everyone to approve of you, you will eventually become whoever everyone else wants you to be.
That’s a dangerous way to live.
Applause feels good.
Recognition feels good.
Being told we’re doing a great job feels good.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying those moments.
The problem starts when we need them.
When our motivation comes from approval, we start measuring our worth by reactions.
Did they like my idea?
Did enough people notice?
Did I get the credit?
Do they think I’m successful?
Before long, we can spend more energy managing what people think about us than actually becoming better people.
There is another way.
Focus on adding value.
Instead of walking into the room asking, “What will they think of me?”
Ask:
“How can I make this room better because I was here?”
How can I help someone grow?
How can I solve a problem?
How can I encourage someone who is struggling?
How can I teach what I know?
How can I listen instead of trying to impress?
That shift changes everything.
Because when your goal is applause, the focus stays on you.
When your goal is adding value, the focus moves toward others.
And strangely enough, that is often when we begin growing the most ourselves.
This level of awareness doesn’t happen overnight.
Most of us have spent years being trained to chase grades, promotions, titles, likes, recognition, awards, and approval.
Breaking that pattern takes work.
It requires enough self-awareness to recognize when your ego is driving the car.
Enough confidence to do good work when nobody notices.
Enough humility to help someone else succeed without needing your name attached to it.
And enough courage to ask yourself:
Am I trying to look successful, or am I trying to become valuable?
That question can sting.
Good.
Sometimes growth is supposed to.
We should all be working toward becoming a little more aware, a little more useful, a little more thoughtful, and a little better than we were yesterday.
Not because someone is watching.
Not because someone will clap.
Because becoming better allows us to help other people become better too.
And that is a much stronger definition of success.
If you’re struggling to make that shift, trying to understand what motivates you, or simply know there’s another level of growth you haven’t reached yet, you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Sometimes a good conversation, an outside perspective, and someone willing to challenge your thinking can make all the difference.
Reach out.
I am not hard to find.
Solid sermon!!!! Preach!!!!!