For a majority of my life I had an obsession with making the people around me happy even if I wasn’t happy myself. From high school boyfriends to unreasonable teachers, I tried everything in my power to ensure people liked me as a person. Sure, everybody around me was pleased with who I was but I wasn’t.
When I got to college, I continued with this mentality during my first year and let me tell you, I was DEFINITELY not happy. I was way too focused on other people’s thoughts about me instead of focusing on my own personal goals and growth.
It wasn’t until this summer that I realized that my happiness matters too. I had to stop obsessing over whether or not people liked my personality, what I was studying in school, how I dressed, or what extracurricular activities I did. At the end of the day, I realized that it’s impossible for me to think that I can please every person in this world.
If you can relate to the mindset that I use to have, I urge you to focus on your own happiness. By no means am suggesting you to be mean to those around you however, as we grow, we must learn to establish a set of personal boundaries of respect for ourselves. Our happiness is valuable and worth protecting. We shouldn’t give anybody the opportunity to take that away.
So the next time someone tries to tell you how disappointed they are that you are not going to law school or how they don’t approve of your personal style, take those words with a grain of salt. Learn what makes you happy and do it! You are in control of your own happiness. Don’t let other people’s words or thoughts take that away.
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Matthew 5:11
<3 TD
I struggled with this all my life, and honestly I still struggle, but what helped me was one day my fiance’ said…”Im not worried about people liking me, I worry if I like them”. Like I never thought that way. Sometimes we are so worried about other people liking us, not even realizing that some of these people we might not actually like or agree with spiritually. Great read!
Wow that’s such a great perspective! I think it is certainly a process when it comes to learning to stand up for yourself. I hope this helped out someone somewhere!