Craving approval?

Does anyone else find that they crave approval from people they don't even know well?

For example, if I'm in a group, and somebody seems particularly cool or nice, I'll automatically find myself wishing that they'd acknowledge me and approve of something I do or say. It even happens online - on some forums I'll want certain people to reply to my threads, showing some sort of acknowledgement of what I posted and approval of it. I may never have had a conversation with these people or interacted with them in any way. I never tell them this, I'd feel way too embarrassed (and yes, it does happen here too, but I'm not telling you who I crave approval from )

Yes, i've been sick of that too.
Still am..

..and still trying to fight it

But i also learned that seeking approval triggers my moods
Especially when i don't get what i desire

So i tell myself eff approval!

It helps most of the time...

I have that same problem. Its almost like saying that I wish for them to validate my existence which I know is totally irrational on my part. I guess that's probably why I've always enjoyed working professionally. Its a way for me to gain ongoing and regular praise and recognition for a job well done. I always feel like my level of self-esteem and confidence is super high when I'm at work. And, sometimes those same good feelings will then slowly trickle down into my personal life.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

I hope you like my response. LOL

Yes.

Why I need approval or at least acknowledgement from people who are all but strangers is beyond me. I need approval even more from the people who know me better.

I always hide my feelings but in one period I started to show peóple how I really feel inside and opened up more than i ever had done before but now when Im afraid of losing those few friends I have I just choise to keep my distance from them insteed. But I always want approvel even though I dont show it on the outside but my inside really desire the attention and approvel...

Here's my thing. You're already a narcissist, right? Like me, I think everyone hates me. That's a form of narcissism to believe that everyone would even think about me, let alone hate me.

So just flip it. Wake up each morning and look in the mirror and tell yourself,
"I am a star. I'm a star, I'm a star, I'm a star. I am a big, bright, shining star. That's right."
or like my signature,
"Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it." Or woman, if you have a jj.

You gotta "lie" to yourself sometimes. Even when you don't believe, just lie. Because you ARE a bad ass motha ###$, Flow. Those people that you want approval from? They were told they were special all their lives. Most of em didn't go through the $#%^ you been through. Would they have made it? Could they go inside their own minds and souls and be brave enough to challenge their very own reality? They take for granted what you fight for and very rightfully earned.

Now of course I seek approval. But I can't sit here and wait to be approved of. Again, check my sig. I'm not cured or better than anyone else. I struggle. But you gotta at least put up a fight, right?

Z1t23ch3 wrote:You gotta "lie" to yourself sometimes. Even when you don't believe, just lie. Because you ARE a bad ass motha ###$, Flow. Those people that you want approval from? They were told they were special all their lives. Most of em didn't go through the $#%^ you been through. Would they have made it? Could they go inside their own minds and souls and be brave enough to challenge their very own reality? They take for granted what you fight for and very rightfully earned.

If there was a "like" button on here, I'd be pressing it right now. You are absolutely right. Thank you so much, I really needed to hear that today.

flowingtears wrote:

Z1t23ch3 wrote:You gotta "lie" to yourself sometimes. Even when you don't believe, just lie. Because you ARE a bad ass motha ###$, Flow. Those people that you want approval from? They were told they were special all their lives. Most of em didn't go through the $#%^ you been through. Would they have made it? Could they go inside their own minds and souls and be brave enough to challenge their very own reality? They take for granted what you fight for and very rightfully earned.

If there was a "like" button on here, I'd be pressing it right now. You are absolutely right. Thank you so much, I really needed to hear that today.

Yeah, I helped someone! I needed that.

I definitely do crave approval. I will do anything to have someone approve of what I do, say, think etc. I go out of my way to be accepted by people, even if I'm not being who I feel is the "real" me. It's a bad habit. I care too much what other people think.