Throughout my life, although less as I age, I have sought approval from those around me, parents, friends, co-workers, girlfriends.. hell, even people I have just met. Earlier in my life it wasn’t unheard of for me to talk up, or brag about different things in my life. Even, at times, embellishing the truth or outright lying about things. If you were one of those people that I did that to:
I’m sorry, it was wrong and I strive to do that no longer.
I do think that I have turned a corner in the last few years where I no longer seek that approval at every turn. I can’t say that I never find myself exaggerating at times, but when I do I catch myself through a little twinge of awareness.
The goal I have set for myself is to only ever use myself as the benchmark by which I judge myself, not how others see me. My sense of satisfaction, or disappointment should only come from myself.
In order to live with a sense of positive purpose, I need to constantly look at myself in the mirror, wiping away the fog of self delusion, however thin it may be, and see how my actions effect the most important person in my life.
Myself.