The Dr. Leaf Show The 7-Step Process to Finally Stop Caring What People Think
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Jan 21, 2026 Explore how social judgment can feel as painful as physical hurt and discover the science behind it. Learn to spot your approval loop and reduce the imagined audience that fuels anxiety. Dr. Leaf provides steps to separate your identity from others' expectations, build self-trust through small actions, and reframe rejection as constructive feedback. Challenge the internal narrator that keeps you small, and embrace a technique to detach in real-time. This insightful discussion empowers you to reclaim your voice and stop people-pleasing once and for all.
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Social Pain Is Real
- Social judgment activates the same neural circuitry as physical pain, so perceived rejection feels like real threat.
- Up to 60% of major life decisions are influenced by perceived social approval, often unconsciously.
Client Who Stopped Shutting Down
- A patient who shut down at signs of disappointment traced it to approval tied to performance in childhood.
- Naming and tracking the approval loop allowed them to observe it and begin shifting.
Spot The Approval Loop
- Notice moments when you edit yourself and ask what triggered the shift.
- Ask which old memory this moment might be activating to expose the approval loop.
