The minute you show that you need approval is the very minute you’re least likely to get it.
Once someone knows they wield so much power over you that you’ll change to meet their whims, they’ll double and triple down on their demands. There will never be enough tests to pass, hoops to jump through. The treadmill of constant expectations for change after change will never end until you end it; once the other person has their hooks in you, they’ll never let that power go.
This is not to say you shouldn’t want to please people. Just be selective about it. People you love and trust should be the focus over anyone who isn’t pouring anything significant into your cup. When it comes to approval, the buck stops with you. The more you approve of yourself, the less you care about approval from others.
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