The more comfortable you are with yourself, the less you need the approval of others.
If you know yourself and your strengths, weaknesses, and shortcomings, you’ll need less confirmation from outside. It’s a matter of awareness. If you seek external confirmation, you have doubts about something in yourself. Find and try to understand them. What makes you doubtful? Is it the imposter syndrome (and a false positive) or lack of knowledge or lack of experience? Once you find the root, you stop seeking the approval of others.
- Source(s): Farnam Street Brain Food Newsletter Nr. 575
