Addicted to attention part 5 – how to fix vanity?

Change your belief system. Belief systems fuel the insecurities in people’s lives. We become convinced that we aren’t attractive or thin enough, because we adopt the world’s definition of beauty. We assume that we aren’t valuable, because the school’s testing system says we’re below average. We must be worthless, because we don’t have enough money, aren’t athletic or don’t have the right friends. You see, these are all wrong belief systems that ignite our anxiety and send us searching for significance.

Don’t try so hard. Here’s a tip: don’t do anything to try to get attention. When you realize that you’re interjecting a story because you want everyone to look at you, stop. If you start to dress a certain way because you know you can get people of the opposite gender to notice, change clothes. When you catch yourself putting someone down to get a laugh or showcase your wit, say something kind instead.
Redirect the attention. One of the best ways to attack your need to be noticed is to point the attention toward someone else. Under your old was of operating, you would beg for the floor in a social situation. If you want to change that, you should begin to purposefully look for ways to redirect others until they begin to see and appreciate someone besides you. Instead of hogging the stage, try offering a sincere compliment to someone else in the room.

Flaunt your inner substance, not your appearance. Many people leave nothing to the imagination when it comes to the way that they dress. Women wear shirts that are cut both low and high. And pants that barely cover the pants that need covering. Add into that equation the rightness of the clothing or the see-through material, and there are problems. How about a young lady who is attractive but not exhibiting every physical feature? Rather, what is visible is her sincerity, humility and tenderness. On the other hand, certain guys love to take off their shirts and wear their pants low. Not because it’s hot outside, but because they think they are. Isn’t it great if you see a young man who you know are hot properties to the women around him, but they aren’t cocky. Instead they exhibit a gentle spirit and an authentic, caring heart. People like this have chosen to focus on the content instead of flaunting the package.

Adopted from momentum – gaining ground with God by Sean Dunn