“Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.” (Galatians 1:10 NLT)
People Pleasers tend to be viewed as kind, likeable, and accommodating. They thrive on approval. Since they can’t stand disappointing others, they will do anything to avoid the discomfort of direct conflict. These traits are considered socially acceptable and favorable; thus, they are often reinforced in children by their parents. After years of habitual people-pleasing, a person’s self-worth and identity become dependent on what others think. This approval addiction is closely related to codependency.
“Jesus gives a great example of a non-codependent life, totally God-directed, with no concern about what others thought, yet abounding in love.” (Quote from a friend)
Jesus was always God-directed. His love was not motivated by other people’s responses or opinions. He lived to please God. As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same--to live as if only One person’s approval matters, to be continuously God-focused, God-dependent, and God-pleasing.
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