E1: Who Are You Trying to Impress Anyway?
The Hidden Cost of Proving Yourself — and How to Stop
Do you ever catch yourself hustling for approval? Working longer hours, saying yes when you want to say no, or setting impossible standards — all in hopes of finally feeling “enough”? You’re not alone.
In a world that glorifies productivity and busyness, it’s easy to believe that our value lies in what we do. But the truth is, who you are goes so much deeper than any title, accomplishment, or to-do list. And here’s something we don’t talk about enough: the most important person watching everything you do is you.
So, who are you really trying to impress? Everyone else — or yourself?
Why We Get Stuck in “Doing” Mode
External expectations: We want to meet others’ standards — at work, in relationships, or even on social media.
Perfectionism: We believe being flawless will earn us acceptance.
Fear of stillness: Slowing down can feel uncomfortable, so we fill the space with activity.
But living this way eventually leads to burnout and a disconnect from who we really are — and even worse, we often fail to meet our own impossible standards.
The Shift: From Impressing to Being
When we pause and reconnect with our being, we realize:
Our worth isn’t tied to productivity.
External approval is fleeting, but self-acceptance lasts.
The person whose opinion truly matters is the one in the mirror.
This shift doesn’t mean we stop working toward goals; it means we stop letting those goals define us or dictate our worth.
Try This at Home: The “Who Am I Without Doing?” Question
Take five quiet minutes and ask yourself:
Who am I if I stop trying to impress anyone — including myself?
Do I hold myself to impossible standards that no one else expects of me?
What would it feel like to simply be present and proud of myself, no matter what I achieve?
Write down what surfaces — you may discover parts of yourself you’ve overlooked and expectations you can release.
The takeaway: You’re not here to earn your worth; you already have it. When you let go of the need to prove yourself — to others and to yourself — you create space for peace, clarity, and joy.