Christian author Joyce Meyer says most of us have a disease called “Approval Addiction“, and that we should learn to go against it.. You may already be suffering from the mindset that such addiction has already inflicted on you, and yet you are unaware of it. Picture yourself running like a wind on the streets because you are apparently late for work. But then a random person walks toward you and asks for your assistance with some problem. What are you going to do?
Most people would definitely agree to help this stranger. Now, as much of a good deed it is, it is also unreasonable. If I may remind you, you were already late. If ever you refused to help this stranger, it is not because you do not want to help them; but still you chose to agree. You can look at this situation and say that you’re just being selfless. But if you really look at the same situation again, you are actually being selfish. Let’s say you do help this person even amidst the fact that you are running late, in the end you get something in return, which is th feeling of accomplishment. Plus, if you successfully help this person, you get their approval which makes you feel more great.
This is my perfect summarization of Joyce Meyer’s masterpiece titled approval addiction. We are very much absorbed by our wanting to prove ourselves to other people, even if doing so means we have to let go of more important things. We all love the feeling that we get when someone likes what we are doing, and so we strive hard to get this feeling. However, Meyer says that this is an addiction that we should rid ourselves of.
We were not put in this world to gather praises from other people, we were created to do a purpose for mankind. Doing deeds as we know is indeed what God would have wanted for us. But doing good things for the sake of other people’s approval is not. We may not realize it, but we spend most of our time working to get the approval of friends, family, and even random people. And while doing so, we overlook the One whose approval matters the most. We are so busy trying to please everyone that we forget about pleasing God.
Approval Addiction is a great way for us to break free from the ties of society. If you have long forgotten the essence of saying “NO”, then let Meyer help you find it again. We should not be afraid to voice out our opinions, and we should not be afraid to fight for the things we believe in. It does not matter if you are a Christian or not, reading Approval Addiction will help you find the means to start living your life based on your own will and liking.
Also worth checking out Battlefield of Mind and Confident Woman Books.