The Mark Groves Podcast #478: Authenticity Over Approval
Sep 29, 2025
Explore the intriguing nature of authenticity and the struggle between being true to oneself and seeking acceptance. Dive into how codependency and people-pleasing can lead us to wear masks, often at the cost of self-expression. Discover the tension between belonging and honesty, and the importance of strategic self-expression, especially in challenging relationships. Reflect on your own tendencies to prioritize fitting in over authenticity and learn practical steps to embrace your true self with courage and boundaries.
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Belonging Versus Authenticity
- Humans have two core needs: to belong and to be authentic.
- When authenticity threatens belonging, belonging usually wins until it doesn't.
Collective Codependency Harms Self
- Collective codependency causes people to prioritize others' thoughts and feelings over their own truth.
- Sourcing safety from external approval leads to self-abandonment and long-term harm.
Be Strategic With Self-Expression
- Use strategy when expressing yourself so authenticity becomes a choice, not a survival tactic.
- Put on and take off masks intentionally rather than from trauma or adaptive habit.