We seem to spend most of our younger years trying to fit in with the crowd, in addition to looking for the approval of others. We spend a lot of time, effort and agony searching for that approval. As we move through life, we hopefully come to contextualize this “approval” and put it in its’ proper place.
When we stop looking for the approval of others and begin to follow our own path is when we find our true selves. This isn’t about being selfish. It’s about loving and nurturing the self. Those are very different concepts.
The only approval we should seek is our own. Based on our character, the choices we make and how we treat other people.
What someone else thinks about you is irrelevant to your journey. We must follow our compass within us whether it makes sense to others or not. As long as our intentions are true.