Not many people are willing to admit their actions are influenced by external affirmation. We like to think we’re in control of our own decisions.
Yet most people value things – and sometimes even relationships – based on how much envy or admiration it generates from other people.
One of the strongest signals a person is seeking for outside affirmation is that they’ll buy stuff to impress others.
It’s a path to disaster, because it means your life is now controlled by other people’s perception of what it means to be successful.
If you buy things to impress the people around you, you’ll end up wasting far too much money on things that won’t end up making you happy in the long run.
Even worse, if you value your relationships based on what other people think of the person you’re engaging with, you’ll end up wasting far too much time hanging out with people that won’t end up making you happy.
Reputation is an empty promise, if it’s solely based on the things you own and the people you hang out with.
Value things differently.
Value things based on how happy they make YOU in the long run.
Define your own success.
