One of the biggest obstacles to people improving their self esteem is their constant need for approval by others. They feel that unless someone tells them what a great job they did or how wonderful they are, they’re just not good enough. They don't believe in themselves so they need to find someone else who will.
The problem with this is that until you believe in yourself, it will never matter what someone else says because the most important person doesn't believe it, You.
You'll constantly look for more and more people to tell you that you're valuable. The search will continue until you find that one person who agrees with what you truly believe about yourself; that you're really a fraud or a failure. Then, it wouldn't matter if a million people said wonderful things about you, you would only remember the person that had spoken negative comments.
It's In You:
The approval you really need to find is from yourself and this can only begin once you stop searching for approval in others and take the time to heal yourself.
Often even just the awareness of your actions will provide you with a great deal of healing. Be sure to take the time to explore your feelings and learn why and where it's coming from. Once you do that then you'll most likely find that you no longer need approval from others for that particular feeling.
Freedom:
The moment when you suddenly realize that you don’t need anyone else’s approval is incredible. There is a sudden peace inside of you which will make you absolutely giddy with joy. It’s like you have suddenly woken up from a nightmare and you’re now free to just be you. Your whole life will be completely different. You may find that for the first time in your life, you understand what it means to feel "content" and "happy".
But, how do you get to the point where you can let go of needing approval from others? If it's something you've been doing your whole life, you may not even be aware that you're doing it.
How Do You Seek Approval From Others?
It starts with being aware of how you might be seeking approval from others. For example:
- Are you hesitant to give your opinion on something until you know how others feel about it?
- When you make excuses do you do it to make yourself look better?
- Do you ask everyone else for their opinion before you’ll make a decision?
- Do you worry excessively about what to wear?
- Do you tune out what others are saying because you’re trying to think of what you’re going to say so that you appear knowledgeable or funny or clever?
- Do you find that you’re self conscious a lot and worry about what to say?
- Are you afraid to say "No" because of what people might think of you?
- Are you constantly trying to please people?
- Do you buy things so that people will think more highly of you?
- Do you do activities just to impress others?
An Important Clue:
One important clue that you're desperate for approval is the next time that you feel pain, distressed or anxious when dealing with someone else. Your stomach suddenly feels like it's tied in knots or you feel guilty or you're feeling confused and don't know what to do. Ask yourself if this feeling is because you really want this other person's approval. It doesn't even have to be someone you know. It could be a complete stranger that you feel the sudden need to explain to why you just did what you did.
As Byron Katie says, “when you say or do anything to please, get, keep, influence, or control anyone or anything, fear is the cause and pain is the result”. So, if you're feeling pain, it could be a sign that you've hurt yourself by needing that approval that you can't find within yourself.
Once you realize what you have been doing to try and influence other people's opinion of you, you’ll very quickly start to understand what part of you needs to be healed.
Author and Source: Catherine Pratt