How to Fight Your Unhealthy Desire for Acceptance
Accept yourself. Ephesians 2:4-9
God made you, God loves you, and God wants a relationship with you. You have value with God so it is alright to believe that you have value in this life.
Stop worrying about others think about you. Romans 12:1, 2
Your main concern in this life is not about making others pleased with you, it is about pleasing God. People will like you or hate you no matter what you do, so if they hate you it should be because you are doing what God wants you do. Do what is right, not what makes others like you.
Know what you believe. 2 Timothy 2:15 2 Timothy 3:16, 17
When you are unsure in your moral beliefs, you will find yourself bending your morals to please others. There will be those that will see this weakness you and they will take advantage of you. Read, Study, Memorize, and Meditate on the Bible, strengthen your moral values. These values will protect you from those that want to use you.
Beware where you are and who are with. 1 Peter 5:8
There are places, and people secure than others, negligent people get into trouble and get hurt.
State your positions assertively. 1 Peter 3:15
Do not state your beliefs in a way that would be acceptable to everyone, or the person you are talking to at the moment. You open yourself up to much confusion in your life, does you more harm than good. Be politely assertive when stating your beliefs, it will keep the wrong people and situations out of your life.
Do not dwell upon rejection. Mark 8:31
Instead dwell on those that have and will accept you for who and what you are. Remember Jesus was perfect while upon this earth and many people rejected Him. Some people will just not like you no matter what you do, and being a Christian may be all someone may needs not to like you. Once you accept the fact that not everyone will accept you, you will free yourself of trying to please everyone.
Place great value on your personal prayer time. Philippians 4:6
It is not so much people that give you value as much it is your relationship with God. Your self-worth is dependent upon your relationship with God. You strengthen that relationship in your alone time with Him. Your prayer time with God builds your self-confidence to face this life, because you know He faces it with you.
If you follow these suggestions, you will find the power to say no to those who wish to use you.