“Oh my God, what if you wake up some day, and you’re 65, or 75, and you
never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in
warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly
and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out
on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big
juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring
off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart.
Don’t let this happen.”–Anne Lamott
Dr. Charles Stanley-senior minister of 1st Baptist church in Atlanta, mentioned in one of his “In-Touch” ministry messages that people pleasing is ill advised Christian behavior. He confirmed his point in the scriptures. He mentioned that others, when one tries to please them will not be impressed and soon forget about you.
Contemporary country music entertainer Billy Dean’s composition “Only Here for a Little While” speaks of living a “juicy, creative” natural existence. “Gonna hold who needs holding, mend what needs mending, walk what needs walking though it means an extra mile, pray what needs praying, say what needs saying, ’cause were only here for a little while.” Amen.
I think people pleasing is disingenuous, at best. In no way, do we help or serve others that way. Anne Lamott is a wonderful writer, and also calls herself a Christian. You might enjoy Traveling Mercies, one of her books.