How To Stop Seeking Approval

We grow up in a world where seeking approval is assumed, expected. Authority figures (like parents) assume the responsibility of approval or disapproval to teach their offspring how to move through the world. It’s also a kind of currency: it determines who we are, where we belong, what doors open for us. But at some point, some of us begin to wonder—what happens if I stop asking for permission? In this episode, Joe and Brett wrestle with the complexity of approval-seeking and how to break free from it. They explore: - The push and pull between belonging and authenticity - The weight of societal norms and expectation - The way doubt and conditioning pull us from our innate wisdom - The necessity of discomfort in the pursuit of true authenticity - The somatic cues that indicate when we are honoring our truth—or avoiding it - Practical exercises for cultivating self-approval