Avoiding Approval Addiction

Approval addiction is subtle but dangerous.

It sneaks in like a thief, quietly rearranging the furniture of your soul. Before long, your worth feels tied to the words of others, their nod of approval, and their validation.

Bono, the legendary lead singer of U2, grew up with a father who showed little interest in his music.

Bono’s father adored opera and could explain its intricacies but didn’t acknowledge his son’s passion for rock and roll. That silence could have crushed him. Instead, it fueled him.

Bono learned not to rely on his father’s approval to move forward. That void drove him to discover his own voice and write his own songs as he embraced his unique purpose. (You can read more in Bono’s memoir titled “Surrender”)

We all face moments like that. Those times when the affirmation we crave doesn’t come. And it stings. Parents, teachers, or friends who were supposed to cheer us on sometimes leave us in silence.

However, the approval you seek from others can never fully satisfy your soul. Only God can do that.

In Galatians 1:10, the apostle Paul reminds us, “If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Living for the approval of others dilutes our purpose. But when we anchor our identity in Christ, we are free to focus on his assignment for our lives.

Don’t let the silence of others shape you.

Let God’s word affirm you, and trust that His purpose for your life doesn’t hinge on the applause of others.

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Reflection: Whose approval are you seeking that might be holding you back from your purpose

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