Approval Junkie

From comedian and journalist Faith Salie, of NPR's Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me! and CBS News Sunday Morning, a collection of daring, funny essays chronicling the author's adventures during her lifelong quest for approval Faith Salie has done it all in the name of validation. Whether she’s trying to impress her parents with a perfect GPA, undergoing an exorcism to save her toxic marriage, or baking a 3D excavator cake for her son’s birthday, Salie is the ultimate approval seeker—an “approval junkie,” if you will. In this collection of daring, honest essays, Salie shares stories from her lifelong quest for gold stars, recounting her strategy for winning (very Southern) high school beauty pageant; her struggle to pick the perfect outfit to wear to her divorce; and her difficulty falling in love again, and then conceiving, in the years following her mother’s death. With thoughtful irreverence, Salie reflects on why she tries so hard to please others, and herself, highlighting a phenomenon that many people—especially women—experience at home and in the workplace. Equal parts laugh-out loud funny and poignant, Approval Junkie is one woman’s journey to realizing that seeking approval from others is more than just getting them to like you—it's challenging yourself to achieve, and survive, more than you ever thought you could.

Are you a people pleaser? Are you addicted to a€œapprovala€? from others, and would do just about anything to get that approval? Biblical counselor Lou Priolo exposes all the prideful manifestations of this problem and, as always, offers solid, systematic Biblical solutions! Even readers who feel that they do not have this problem should read this helpful book, because what you dona€t know can and will hurt you and others.\n

Rachel Resnick hits her forties single, broke, depressed, and childless. Looking back over years of failed relationships, she identifies a lifelong addiction to love-an addiction to the unfulfilled fantasy of romantic bliss, marriage, and family, and to a string of sexual relationships that only carry her farther from that dream. As she peels back one raw layer after another, she must eventually confront the painful experiences of her childhood-and the difficult work of recovery that lies ahead. A groundbreaking, compulsively readable memoir, Love Junkie charts Resnick's path from destructive love to intimacy, from despair to hope, and cracks open one of our more elusive and pervasive modern-day addictions.

Intimate Issues answers the twenty-one questions about sex most frequently asked by Christian wives, as determined by a nationwide poll of over one thousand women. Written from the perspective of two mature Christian wives and Bible teachers–women who you’ll come to know as teachers and friends–Intimate Issues is biblical and informative: sometimes humorous, other times practical, but always honest. Through its solid teaching warm testimonials, scriptural insights, and experts’ advise, you’ll find resolution for your questions and fears, surprising insights about God’s perspective on sex, and a variety of practical and creative ideas for enhancing your physical relationship with the husband you love. With warmth and wisdom, authors Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus speak woman to woman: examining the teachings of Scripture, exposing the lies of the world, and offering real hope that every woman’s marriage relationship can become all it was intended to be in God’s design.

Explore this stunning quality of God’s grace: It never ends! In this revision of a foundational work, John Piper reveals how grace is not only God’s undeserved gift to us in the past, but also God’s power to make good happen for us today, tomorrow, and forever. True life for the follower of Jesus really is a moment-by-moment trust that God is dependable and fulfills his promises. This is living by faith in future grace, which provides God's mercy, provision, and wisdom—everything we need—to accomplish his good plans for us. In Future Grace, chapter by chapter—one for each day of the month—Piper reveals how cherishing the promises of God helps break the power of persistent sin issues like anxiety, despondency, greed, lust, bitterness, impatience, pride, misplaced shame, and more. Ultimate joy, peace, and hope in life and death are found in a confident, continual awareness of the reality of future grace.

Seeking validation is a natural and normal part of human behavior. We seek to be validated on what we say, and do, and even how we appear. Children can experience having healthy validation at home and school, or they can have a lack of validation, or even experience being invalidated. The way a child was raised has a huge impact on how he or she seeks validation as an adult. Seeking validation as a young adult or as an adult becomes obsessive when the validation-seeking behavior becomes unconscious and has a pattern, and perhaps a repetition, which may have some negative consequences. The author has labeled that behavior Validation Addiction. The unconscious need for validation in a compulsive or addictive way could have serious consequences on relationships, and careers. Some people who act out this way are masking depression or anxiety, or perhaps have developed this addictive behavior in lieu of alcohol, which may have been a problem in the family of origin. Treatment for this condition will only begin when the person recognizes there is a problem. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and perhaps medication with an approved anti-depressant are suggested methods to reduce the occurrence of this behavior and hopefully replace it with a more appropriate behavior.

A "Hand Up" for Women Stuck in the Toxic Love Rut Do romantic relationships leave you miserable and confused? Are you tired of getting into a relationship and as soon as the initial buzz is gone you get that sinking feeling that whispers, what am I doing? Did the new wear off as soon as the wedding bells rang? Experts say that we gravitate toward relationships within a ten-point spread of our own IQ. Likewise, in the realm of soul-health, we also attract those with whom we are most emotionally compatible. That can be a good thing, or a bad thing - it depends on how much baggage we carry around! What if there was a way to diagnose your soul-health and create a plan for improvement so you could enjoy more satisfying romantic relationships? Complete with an online Soul-Health Profile that will help you assess your own soul-health and identify areas of weaknesses, Love Junkies is just that - an action plan and detailed guide to help you eliminate toxic behaviors that jeopardize your soul health and keep you stuck in unhealthy relationships. You'll learn how to change your habits and heal your soul and most importantly, break the toxic relationship cycle! FOREWORD: By Shannon Ethridge, bestselling author of the Every Woman's Battle books with Steve Arterburn, and The Sexually Confident Woman.

Praise for Master Your Fears "Dr. Sapadin's fascinating guide to mastering our fears and constant worries is essential reading for these times. She offers readers a practical and powerful set of guidelines for taking control of their strong emotions and building a better life in the process." -Philip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D., professor, Stanford University, and past president of the American Psychological Association "Master Your Fears is a valuable self-help book written in clear language, with excellent advice, engaging quizzes, creative exercises and lots of anecdotes about people with all types of fears. Dr. Sapadin supportively explains the fearful lifestyle-and how to change the pattern. She connects with readers, venturing beyond theory and case studies, by openly discussing her own fears and how she overcame them. A must-read if you want to lighten your fear and brighten your life." -Carol Goldberg, Ph.D., host and producer of the award-winning TV program Dr. Carol Goldberg and Company "In this helpful book, Dr. Sapadin does not take a one-size-fits- all approach to the multifaceted experience of fear. Rather, she provides the reader with concrete, creative suggestions for mastering fears based on one's fear style. She also includes simple but powerful assignments that help you create positive change in your life. I will be recommending this book to my clients, friends and all those who allow fear to inhibit their lives." -Pauline Wallin, Ph.D., author of Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-Defeating Behavior "An inspiring, empowering book that will help any reader who has been paralyzed by fear or overwhelmed by a disorganized and chaotic way of living. Master Your Fears provides an abundance of creative yet practical advice on how to change self-defeating emotions and behaviors and leave your fears behind. I highly recommend it!" -Barry J. Izsak, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers "Master Your Fears is an excellent book for all those who are living a fearful lifestyle. Dr. Sapadin successfully blends effective strategies for conquering fears with a comprehensive approach for achieving life satisfaction and happiness." -Elizabeth K. Carll, Ph.D., president Media Psychology Division, American Psychological Association