When You’re Worried What People Think

photo by alexkerhead
 

photo by alexkerhead
Sometimes I feel my mind is like a little radio and there’s a station that’s on more frequently than I’d like–KHOL. All Holley, all the time. If it had a hits chart these would be some of the lyrics you might hear…

Hey, hey, hey–Does my hair look okay?

La-tee-dee, I sure hope you like meeeeeeee

Ooh, my-my, feels like I’m back in Junior High

Yes, ma’am. I’m not proud of it but that’s the honest truth. Especially if I’m in a group of people I don’t know well. Sometimes I wish someone would just tell me how to change the dial. Sigh.

And in a book I read last week, someone did. In The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness, Tim Keller says:

The thing we would remember from meeting a truly gospel-humble person is how much they seemed to be totally interested in us. Because the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.

Huh. A few pages before he quoted from 1 Corinthians 4 when Paul says, “I care very little if I am judged by you.” Care very little? It seemed almost a little insensitive at first. But as I read on I realized this:

When I care very little what other people think of me then I’ve suddenly got room to care a lot about other people. 

Love means getting to the place where we can say, “I care about you first and what you think about me second.”

Hard? Um, yes.

Very hard.

But not impossible. Because we have Jesus living in us and he can love through us in ways we never could.

I want to switch the dial on my station more often or at least add a few new tunes.

I’m not completely sure what that will sound like quite yet but I’ve got a feeling there’s gonna be more love songs.

XOXO

Holley

 

About Holley

About Holley

Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author and Life Coach

I like humans, words, and good coffee. And I’d love to help you beat what’s holding you back, become all you’re created to be, and kick butt for the greater good.

Cheering you on,

Holley

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