“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” -Gal. 1:10

Almost one week in, and this verse pops up on my newsfeed with a big WHAM to the face. You know, where you’re scrolling, and then a little somethin’ somethin’ grabs your eye & makes you pause? It was one of those.

Because this verse pinpoints one of my biggest struggles: people-pleasing. I like to think I’ve gotten a lot better at this little issue since my high school days, where every move I made was always overshadowed by “What will others think about me if I do this?!” I like to think I’m a confident woman, unafraid of other’s opinions & unashamed of my own goals, but even writing “confident woman” over there made me try to backspace a bit, as if I’m still not quite sure.

This verse is one I should have on a notecard, plastered in front of my face everywhere I go. Because last time I checked, seeking the approval of man doesn’t really get this girl — or anyone — anywhere.

No matter how hard we try to please everyone around us, it just ain’t happening. In life, we will never have EVERYONE’S approval, and the funny thing is…even when we do have the approval of most, it still isn’t enough.

I think that’s clear enough just from this past week in the news, especially in regards to Robin Williams. That a person loved by so many could feel so empty hit a lot of people, including me, in a really bad way. And I’m not mentioning him in an effort to diminish his struggle to a lack of approval; rather, it’s the opposite: that someone with so MUCH approval still couldn’t find satisfaction. So obviously, approval isn’t what makes life worth living.

Why then, is that very thing what so many of us seek? I don’t really have an answer for this, and I’m not quite sure how to wrap this desire to NOT constantly seek the approval of others with the fact that so much of my business lives within the crazy realms of social media, but I do know that if I run this business with the goal of finding approval from YOU, it will be a big fat failure.

And how freeing is it, to know that I don’t need your approval?! Not that I don’t value it & appreciate it, because I do. I am so incredibly thankful for all of the love and support you all have shown — it means the world to me and is the reason behind my giveaway — to give a little something back to you who have given me so much!! However, your approval can’t be the driving force behind WHY I am doing this.

Every single day, I am so thankful for the creative mind God gave me. Every single day, I am reminded of his approval: his love for me, and you, and every single person in this world! Without the gifts & talents I have received from Him, without the support my friends and family have given, I wouldn’t be here today, and I am fully aware of that! I do what I do in honor of them; this is my driving force: to bring God glory, to spread LIFE & share joy with those around me, to capture moments that would otherwise be lost in the day, to remind people why they fell in love in the first place, and to show families just how precious their loved ones are!

It’s not for the “likes”, it’s not for the shares, it’s not for the comments. I don’t need those, because I already have approval from the only One that matters. And sometimes, I just need to remind myself of that.

So, thanks for listening to me ramble, and hopefully maybe a little piece of what I said resonated with you as well. Are you caught in the never-ending web of people-pleasing? Stop struggling. Stop letting the fear of what others may think control what you do. Stop letting the opinions of others consume your thoughts. It’s exhausting & not how we are meant to live. Know that there is One who is so so so SO in love with who you ARE. Know that he sees you, and he approves. While you may never win over everyone’s heart, you have already won over The Heart that matters.

       

Just some of my beach thoughts this Thursday afternoon :)

The rest of August / first week of September sees a bit of a photography slow-down for me as I start a new school year, celebrate Chris’s birthday, my birthday, & our anniversary, but don’t worry — you will still see me on the blog, and I will be back in action quite shortly! I am so excited for all of the fun sessions & weddings I have coming up this fall, and I can’t wait to see where this next season takes me :)

Now I’m off to soak up these last few days of sun with my boo — have a wonderful wonderful rest of your Thursday!!!

Love love love,
Sami >