Being addicted to others’ opinions of us is extremely destructive. An excessive need for people to approve and validate us can cause guilt, shame, and insecurity in us. This kind of addiction leads us to seek others’ approval before we can value ourselves, and causes us to greatly fear rejection and disapproval from people who do not even care about us. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and mental health issues. Craving others’ acceptance and forgetting that God has already accepted us is tragic; realizing that He approves of us helps us break this addiction. Our mental outlook and self-respect immediately begin to improve when we decide that we like ourselves, regardless of what others think. We will not need the world’s validation when we know that we are already God’s beloved, and the apple of His eye.
Understanding Grace | Empowering Change