Sayyiduna Amr bin Malik al-Ru'asi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Be pleased with me." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned his face away from me; this happened three times. The narrator says: I said: "O Messenger of Allah! When one strives to please the Lord, He becomes pleased." The narrator says: Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became pleased with me.
Imam Abu Ya'la and Imam al-Tabarani recorded this narration.
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الزهد / 17968