Publisher’s Points to Ponder: Auditioning for Life

CONFESSION

Have you ever experienced exhaustion from saying “yes” and doing things that please others? If so, you are not alone. There is this thing called approval addiction, and I am an approval addict for sure. I attribute this addiction to my lifelong auditions for life roles. The more I audition for a position in life, the deeper I fall into the arms of addiction.

I’ve been auditioning for life since I was a little girl. I wasn’t aware initially, but I’ve grown to learn that auditioning for life is no different from auditioning for a role in a play. The word audition, in its purest form, means a trial of performance to test suitability for a task such as employment. For me, it has been a test for suitability for my life roles as a daughter, a sister, a mother, a wife, and a friend, among other parts I am expected to play during my time on earth. However, I find myself auditioning time and time again because of my need to win approval from others.

While making others happy is part of the human experience along with our desire to do good, it is not acceptable to sacrifice your dignity or self-worth in the process. I thought I was better, but I have been living a lie. I am disappointed that I spend most of my day putting the needs of others before my own. As a result, I am overwhelmed with exhaustion, and I can no longer live the lie that has affected my health and mental acuity. Can you relate?

Although we will always have roles to play in life, I realize it is not necessary to audition for innate roles. Nothing trumps authenticity; One thing I am sure of is the fact that nobody is better at being you than you are. God created all of us with unique qualities and traits. Our uniqueness allows us to connect with others authentically. Therefore, we should embrace who we are without reservation.

I challenge you to ponder on living a life free of sacrificial compromise. While taking care of others, remember to take care of yourself. Don’t allow others to make you do and say things that don’t add value to your purpose in life. Understand that it is OK to love yourself and to allow others to either love you or leave you.