Living Beyond the Need for Approval

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Galatians 1:10

It’s natural to want to be accepted. We want people to understand us, appreciate our efforts, and recognize the intentions behind our decisions. Whether we’re pursuing a career, building something meaningful, or working toward a personal goal, encouragement from others can be motivating.

But what happens when the desire for approval begins to influence how we live? When we make decisions based on how people might react rather than what we know is right? Or when we compromise our values because we’re afraid of disappointing someone?

In Galatians 1:10, Paul challenges us to examine whose approval carries the most weight in our lives. His words remind us that following Christ means learning to make decisions based on our faith and convictions rather than allowing the fear of rejection or the desire to be liked to dictate our choices.

The Pressure to Please People

People-pleasing can be difficult to recognize because it doesn’t always look like a problem. Sometimes it appears as kindness, a desire to keep the peace, or a willingness to help others. Those things can be good, but our intentions matter.

There’s a difference between treating people with love and respect and allowing their opinions to determine our worth. We can become so concerned with how others perceive us that we lose sight of what we believe, what matters to us, and what God is calling us to do.

I’ve had to reflect on this in my own life. I care about doing the right thing, being viewed as someone with integrity, and making decisions that align with my values. But I’ve also had to recognize how easy it is to become preoccupied with how other people might perceive my choices, my efforts, or the things I’m working toward.

Whether it’s in my personal life, my professional career, or building H.O.O.P., there’s a temptation to look to others for reassurance that I’m doing enough or moving in the right direction. When that reassurance doesn’t come, it’s easy to become discouraged.

I’m learning that not everyone will understand my decisions, agree with my approach, or recognize the purpose behind what I’m doing. And that’s something I have to become more comfortable with.

Living with integrity means doing what you believe is right, even when it isn’t the most popular choice.

God’s Approval Matters More Than Public Opinion

Galatians 1:10 isn’t a call to disregard people or become indifferent to their feelings; we’re called to love others, treat them with respect, and consider how our actions affect them. The challenge is making sure that our desire to please people never takes priority over our commitment to God.

Human approval can be unpredictable. The same decision that gets praise from one person might invite criticism from another. If we build our identity around people’s reactions, we’ll constantly find ourselves trying to meet expectations that are unattainable.

God’s Word gives us a more dependable foundation.

Instead of asking only whether people will approve of our decisions, we can ask whether those decisions reflect our faith and values. Are we being honest? Are we treating others fairly? Are we acting out of love, or are we motivated by fear of rejection? Are we remaining faithful to what God has placed on our hearts?

These questions shift our attention from managing other people’s opinions to taking responsibility for our own character.

Not every criticism is wrong, and there’s wisdom to be found in receiving correction with humility. We should remain willing to learn, admit when we’re wrong, and make changes when necessary. But there’s a difference between accepting constructive feedback and abandoning our convictions simply to keep everyone happy.

You can listen to others without letting their opinions guide your actions.

When Recognition Becomes the Goal

Basketball offers a practical example of how easily the desire for approval can influence our decisions.

Think about a player who’s more concerned with impressing the crowd than helping the team. They might force a difficult shot instead of passing to an open teammate, avoid taking responsibility after a mistake, or focus on personal accolades rather than what gives the team the best chance to win.

The desire to be liked and embraced can interfere with the very thing the player is trying to achieve.

The same can happen in life. We may chase recognition instead of pursuing meaningful work. We might make choices that look impressive to others but don’t align with our values. We may even begin measuring our progress by the attention we receive rather than the purpose behind our efforts.

On the court, the goal isn’t to win everyone over; it’s to play with discipline, contribute to the team, and compete with integrity. Sometimes that means making the extra pass instead of taking the shot. Sometimes it means accepting a mistake, learning from it, and getting back on defence without making excuses.

Life calls for that same discipline.

We won’t always receive credit for doing the right thing. Our efforts might go unnoticed, and our intentions might be misunderstood. But those things don’t make integrity any less valuable.

Play to make the right impact, not simply to get noticed.

You Can’t Control How Everyone Sees You

One of the difficult realities of life is that we can’t control how other people perceive us. We can communicate our intentions, act with integrity, and treat people with respect, yet still be misunderstood.

That can be frustrating, especially when we’ve invested time and effort into something meaningful.

As I continue building H.O.O.P., I’m learning that I can’t allow other people’s reactions, the level of recognition I receive, or the results I hoped for to become the ultimate measure of whether the work is worthwhile. I want the brand to encourage people to pursue their passions, grow into their potential, and draw closer to God. That purpose needs to remain central, regardless of how quickly things develop or how others respond.

This doesn’t mean ignoring feedback or refusing to improve; it means remembering why I started and being intentional about the values I want the brand to represent.

I have to keep reminding myself that faithfulness isn’t always accompanied by applause; sometimes doing what matters means continuing to show up, making adjustments, and trusting God without knowing how everything will turn out.

The same principle applies to our relationships, careers, families, and personal goals. We can strive to do our best without making other people’s approval a condition for moving forward.

You are responsible for your actions, not for controlling everyone’s opinion of you.

Live With Conviction, Not for Applause

Choosing to please God over people isn’t always easy. It may mean setting boundaries that others don’t understand, speaking the truth when silence would be more comfortable, or walking away from an opportunity that conflicts with your values.

It can also mean admitting when you’ve been wrong, asking for forgiveness, and choosing humility over protecting your image.

These decisions require us to examine our motives regularly. Are we doing something because it’s right, or because we want to be liked? Are we pursuing a goal because it aligns with our purpose, or because we want to prove something to someone else?

We won’t always get these things right. I know I still have room to grow in this area, but I’m learning that the goal isn’t to live without caring what anyone thinks, it’s to care more about honouring God than securing everyone’s approval.

That means praying for wisdom before making decisions, returning to Scripture when my perspective becomes clouded, and being willing to stand by my convictions while remaining humble enough to learn.

We can pursue excellence without becoming consumed by recognition. We can accept feedback without losing our identity. And we can treat people with kindness without feeling pressured to compromise our values.

Be Faithful to the Purpose Behind Your Pursuit

Whether you’re building a business, developing your skills, raising a family, competing in basketball, or simply trying to become a better person, it’s easy to become distracted by external expectations. We can spend so much energy trying to prove ourselves that we forget the values that made the pursuit meaningful to begin with.

Galatians 1:10 challenges us to reconsider how much influence other people’s opinions have over our lives.

You don’t need everyone to understand your journey. You don’t need universal recognition to make a meaningful contribution. And you don’t have to compromise your convictions to fit someone else’s expectations.

I’m learning that growth in this area requires intention. I have to keep checking my motives, remain open to correction, and remind myself why I started the things that matter to me. I won’t always get it right, but I want my decisions to reflect my faith rather than my fear of what others might think.

Live with integrity. Pursue your purpose. Let your faith guide you, even when others don’t understand.