A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any more than a lion needs the approval of sheep. ?Vernon Howard

Today, one of my students was talking about having to do something she wasn’t too excited about doing because her friend wanted her too.  She was afraid if she didn’t, she’d lose the friendship and acceptance of her “friend.”  The first thing I said to her was “You don’t need it.”  The people who matter will accept you for who you are, not who they want you to be.

Of course, for your typical teenage girl, or teenage boy for that matter, the acceptance of friends is very important.  Even as adults, we want the acceptance of our family, co-workers and peers.  But we’re smart enough to realize that in the end, the only acceptance that matters is yours.  You need to accept yourself – all of you, not just your strengths, but your weaknesses.  They all combine to create the amazing person that is you.

The approval of others is a nice thing to have. I’m not going to lie, it really is. But when it comes at a cost, if you have to betray your conscience.  That approval?  You dont’t need it.  What you need is to honor yourself.  The people that matter to you, they’ll accept who you are and support you as you grow.  They won’t try to mold you into who they want you to be.  Be strong, be true to you.