Approval Seeking

“Lean too much on the approval of people and it becomes a bed of thorns.”

– Tehyi Hsieh, Chinese educator, writer, philosopher

“That was the day,” Jerry told me. “The day I gave up seeking my father’s approval.”

Jerry’s family owned a hog operation and keeping the barn clean had become one of Jerry’s chores. After school and every weekend Jerry was in the barn cleaning. It was a job Jerry took seriously – especially on this day.

Jerry desperately wanted to hear the words, “Good job, Son.” On this particular Saturday, Jerry was up early and down to the barn by first light. He cleaned like he had never cleaned before. He even restacked the straw bales and all but measur...

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