--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The pre-conversion Joan had always…" description: "\"“The pre-conversion Joan had always considered faith to be a crutch, and maybe it was. But I had never once considered that my VP title, six-figure sal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/joan-ball-52796_approval-of-others_the-pre-conversion-joan-had-always-consi_2929802.jpg" --- # The pre-conversion Joan had always considered faith to be… ![“The pre-conversion Joan had always considered faith to be a crutch, and maybe it was. But I had never once considered that my VP title, six-figure salary, and bigger than necessary house were also crutches-- crutches that I had used to bear the weight of my insecurities and my unhealthy need for…” quote by Joan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/joan-ball-52796_approval-of-others_the-pre-conversion-joan-had-always-consi_2929802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/joan-ball-52796_approval-of-others_the-pre-conversion-joan-had-always-consi_2929802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/joan-ball-52796_approval-of-others_the-pre-conversion-joan-had-always-consi_2929802.jpg) > ““The pre-conversion Joan had always considered faith to be a crutch, and maybe it was. But I had never once considered that my VP title, six-figure salary, and bigger than necessary house were also crutches-- crutches that I had used to bear the weight of my insecurities and my unhealthy need for the approval of others. I began to realize that, despite my illusion of Independence, I had always leaned on something. Intellect and reason, drugs and alcohol, money and prestige: they had all been crutches for me. And I was being given a choice: to lean on these things that I could see and touch or to release them and lean on this undefined hope promised by this new faith.”” [Joan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ball/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects that material success and personal attributes can become crutches masking insecurity, and suggests choosing faith and hope over tangible comforts. **In simple terms:** Success can hide insecurity; faith offers a different support. Key Takeaway Consider what you rely on for security. Themes insecurity faith materialism selfreliance Mood introspective hopeful Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - personal relationships - financial decisions - health choices Key Concepts psychology spirituality identity dependency Questions to Reflect On - What crutches are you holding onto? - How can you balance material needs with spiritual growth? A Different Perspective Reliance on intangible hope may lack concrete guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval-of-others/) [Considered Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considered-faith-4311432/) [Conversion Joan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversion-joan-4311433/) [Crutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crutch/) [Crutches Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crutches-given-4311431/) [Drugs and alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs-and-alcohol/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Crutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-crutch-2326661/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“The world sees christians as people who use faith as a crutch. How wrong they are. The biggest crutch of all is deceit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/the-world-sees-christians-as-people-who-use-faith-as-a-crutch-how/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [“I've always though Marx's view on religion was the one thing he got right. Faith is a crutch.' 'If you step on a land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-marra/i-ve-always-though-marx-s-view-on-religion-was-the-one-thing-he-got/) [Anthony Marra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-marra/) > [“If religion is a crutch, then society is the broken foot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-religion-is-a-crutch-then-society-is-the-broken-foot/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“The truth may roar, but it's roaring does not terrify the blameless. Guilty conscience needs neither a critic nor an accuser. Remember, the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-truth-may-roar-but-it-s-roaring-does-not-terrify-the-blameless/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [... religion is a crutch, and only the crippled need crutches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/religion-is-a-crutch-and-only-the-crippled-need-crutches/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [“Christ on a crutch”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-3/christ-on-a-crutch/) [J.R.Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-3/) > [The crutch of Time accomplishes more than the club of Hercules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/the-crutch-of-time-accomplishes-more-than-the-club-of-hercules/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Offer the average person a crutch, even though they require it not; and most, will spend the rest of their lives limping, pointing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/offer-the-average-person-a-crutch-even-though-they-require-it-not-and/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [A lot of the problems teenagers go through, it's better for them to go through them on their own. If you always have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-savage/a-lot-of-the-problems-teenagers-go-through-it-s-better-for-them-to-go/) [Ben Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-savage/) > [Being on one crutch to no crutches is a huge difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-vonn/being-on-one-crutch-to-no-crutches-is-a-huge-difference/) [Lindsey Vonn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-vonn/) > [Racial humor was about 35% of my act when I first started. But I realized that it was a crutch. What brought it home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/racial-humor-was-about-35-of-my-act-when-i-first-started-but-i/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [If I want to put makeup on, then, cool, I'll do that. But it's not going to be my crutch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-wright/if-i-want-to-put-makeup-on-then-cool-i-ll-do-that-but-it-s-not-going/) [Letitia Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-wright/) > [When you're together with someone for some time, you will automatically depend on them as if they were a crutch. And then it ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-wilde/when-you-re-together-with-someone-for-some-time-you-will/) [Kim Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-wilde/) > [How can you stand alone when leaning on a crutch is all youve ever known...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-can-you-stand-alone-when-leaning-on-a-crutch-is-all-youve-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's terrible, a crutch, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-belmondo/it-s-terrible-a-crutch-isn-t-it/) [Jean-Paul Belmondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-belmondo/) ## More by Joan Ball > [“Self-protection by bravado is a hard habit to break.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ball/self-protection-by-bravado-is-a-hard-habit-to-break/) [Joan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ball/) > [“... we had to let it go. We had to be willing to lose it all, even if it came to foreclosing on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ball/we-had-to-let-it-go-we-had-to-be-willing-to-lose-it-all-even-if-it/) [Joan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ball/) > [“Jesus is no genie in a lamp. All the happy thoughts and positive thinking in the world will not keep life from being life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ball/jesus-is-no-genie-in-a-lamp-all-the-happy-thoughts-and-positive/) [Joan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ball/) > [“... some of the most significant moments of growth, change, and transformation I've experienced were born in times of challenge and difficulty. This leaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ball/some-of-the-most-significant-moments-of-growth-change-and/) [Joan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ball/) > [“Moments later, confident but cautious, I stepped into my first classroom as Professor Ball. I couldn't have done it without the mentoring and friendship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ball/moments-later-confident-but-cautious-i-stepped-into-my-first/) [Joan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ball/) > [“Dear God, thank you for all that you have given me. For my family, for my job. For our beautiful home. For the grace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ball/dear-god-thank-you-for-all-that-you-have-given-me-for-my-family-for/) [Joan Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ball/) [Explore all 7 Joan Ball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ball/) ## More Approval of others quotes > [Some people lower their own self esteem simply by seeking approval of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-lower-their-own-self-esteem-simply-by-seeking-approval-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lord help me to work on giving, praying and fasting without seeking approval of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lord-help-me-to-work-on-giving-praying-and-fasting-without-seeking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man doesn't require the approval of others. He's willing to follow his heart wherever it leads him. When a man is following his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/a-man-doesn-t-require-the-approval-of-others-he-s-willing-to-follow/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [No effective guidance will ever be achieved by seeking approval of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-effective-guidance-will-ever-be-achieved-by-seeking-approval-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Self-approval is acquired mainly from the approval of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/self-approval-is-acquired-mainly-from-the-approval-of-other-people/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It seemed so natural, receiving it, watching others receive it, assuming that the approval of others determined our worth. Then one day we found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-goff/it-seemed-so-natural-receiving-it-watching-others-receive-it-assuming/) [Lee Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-goff/) > [“My thoughts are my own—I will not modify them to receive the approval of others. My feelings are my own—I will not silence them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-lynn-reilly/my-thoughts-are-my-own-i-will-not-modify-them-to-receive-the-approval/) [Patricia Lynn Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-lynn-reilly/) > [Embrace fanaticism. Harness joie de vivre by pursuing insane interests, consuming passions, and constant sources of gratification that do not depend on the approval…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/embrace-fanaticism-harness-joie-de-vivre-by-pursuing-insane-interests/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) > [“The dismal fact is that self-respect has nothing to do with the approval of others — who are, after all, deceived easily enough; has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/the-dismal-fact-is-that-self-respect-has-nothing-to-do-with-the/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“A balanced inner calmness radiates from a peaceful centre. It neither craves others' approval nor rejects others' presence. It neither pulls towards nor pushes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/a-balanced-inner-calmness-radiates-from-a-peaceful-centre-it-neither/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [Seeking approval of others is away to avoid how deeply we disapprove of ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeking-approval-of-others-is-away-to-avoid-how-deeply-we-disapprove/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Too many people base their worth and value on what other people think of them. They worry if others like them, approve of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/too-many-people-base-their-worth-and-value-on-what-other-people-think/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Happiness means loving yourself and being less concerned with the approval of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-barton/happiness-means-loving-yourself-and-being-less-concerned-with-the/) [Karina Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-barton/) > [“To be mad is to feel with excruciating intensity the sadness and joy of a time which has not arrived or has already been.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/to-be-mad-is-to-feel-with-excruciating-intensity-the-sadness-and-joy/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Funny how my world improved immediately when I stopped seeking approval of others and began approving of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/funny-how-my-world-improved-immediately-when-i-stopped-seeking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 97 Approval of others quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval-of-others/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The pre-conversion Joan had always considered faith to be a crutch, and maybe it was. 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