People Pleasing

By Christy Watson

Have you ever gotten the feeling that someone just does not like you? I know I have. One of my kid’s teachers made it very clear to me (and even to others) that she did not like me. Why, I do not know. Did it bother me? Oh my goodness, yes, it did. Did I try to win her over? I did. Did it work? No, it didn’t.

That was many years ago and since then I have come across more people who don’t like me and guess what? I’m okay with it. Let me repeat that to myself! I am okay with it! Wow! I have grown. I have changed. My skin has gotten thicker. My desire to please people is no longer getting the best of me.

I want you to know, I am so much more than what you see. I belong to God. He made me the way I am. He loves me! I am not perfect. I goof up. I do things wrong. I say things wrong. Whether you accept me or not makes no difference to me. I will no longer allow others’ dislike of me to control me or cause me to go out of my way to try and gain their approval and acceptance. I will still be kind and friendly, because honestly that’s who I am, but I will no longer try to please people or make them like me. I let them go! You are free to choose to dislike me. I hope you have a happy life! Now go and live in peace because that’s what I am going to do!

I have learned people-pleasing is not of God. We should seek to please God and live for Him, not people. People-pleasing is exhausting. We waste a lot of time and energy trying to say and do things to be accepted or loved by others. It’s not worth it. Be yourself and the right people will LOVE you just the way you are! There will always be haters. Pray for them and move on. They’re not your people!

Find your people! They’re the ones who cheer you on and pray for you when life is hard. They’re the ones who want the best for you. They’re not jealous or trying to push you down in order to get ahead. They’re the ones who really want to hear what’s going on in your life. They don’t talk about you behind your back or listen to others talk about you. They support your dreams and build you up. They even know your flaws and love you anyway. Those are your people! Praying God places people like this in your life. I’m so thankful for the ones He has given me!