People pleasing is an addiction

Hey bro,

Are you secretly addicted to approval?

This is one of the biggest issues among my clients. 

We say we don’t care what others think…
But deep down?

We hesitate to speak the full truth.
We hold back what we really feel.
We say yes when we mean no.
We dim our energy just enough to not ruffle feathers.

Why?

Because we’ve been taught that love, respect, and success
come from being liked...
instead of being real.

I’ve seen guys stay in miserable relationships,
tolerate jobs that drain their soul,
bury their truth every single day,

And even sell their soul...

Just to avoid conflict.
Just to not be judged.
Just to feel safe in the illusion that they’re “doing it right.”

But here’s the thing:

Every time you betray yourself to be accepted by someone else,
you teach your nervous system that your truth isn’t safe.

And little by little…
You stop trusting yourself.

You start losing your power.
You second-guess your decisions.
You forget what it even feels like to move freely, boldly, instinctively.

And soon, you’re not even living your life.

You’re playing a role.
Smiling on the outside.
Dying a little inside.

Sound familiar? Here's the thing.

It doesn’t matter how many people like you if you don’t like and respect yourself.
It doesn’t matter how many friends you have if you’re constantly abandoning your own truth.

Approval is a drug.
And just like any addiction, the hit wears off fast and leaves you feeling empty. And over time it destroys your relationships and your life. 

So if you find yourself shrinking…
editing…
performing…
trying to earn love by being “the good guy”...

You’ve put yourself in an invisible prison with that is going to eat you alive.  

And I say this with love:

Your sovereignty and freedom should not be negotiable.

Because the moment you start living from truth instead of approval? 

Sure, some people might judge you.
Some won’t like you.

Some might leave.

Who the f*ck cares!

It doesn't matter if you are being your authentic self and speaking your truth or not.

Some people will always judge you, and you will never be liked by everyone. No matter how hard you try. 

That's their problem, not yours. So what do you have to lose? 

The ones who actually remain in your life will at least like and respect you, even if you are a dick. lol

At least they’ll finally see the real you. And your relationships will go from surface level to real connections. 

And you’ll finally feel that sense of inner peace and confidence you've been longing for.

The kind of peace that can’t be bought, earned, or faked.

Sit with this today:

Where are you still performing to be liked?
Where are you still betraying yourself to avoid discomfort?
Where have you convinced yourself that approval is more valuable than truth?

And then ask yourself this:

What would my life be like if I stopped trying to be liked…  If I and started living like I was already enough just as I am...

And I truly didn't give a sh*t and just said what I wanted to say, did what I really wanted to do...

Till next time,

—Cory