Waiting for outside approval is one of the worst thing anyone can tie himself into. People who wants/strive/look-for outside validation, approval, appraisals are weak.

If we do not have the self-worth from the inside, no outside validation can work. If we simply follow the herd in “Fake it till you make it”, we are simply cheating ourselves. “Don’t fool yourself and you’re the easiest man to fool.”

We are the ones who decides our self worth. We should be the ones who self-question, self-criticize (Popper), self-validate, and self-improve.

Most people tie in the idea of effort to the idea of self worth and validation. In the [imaginary] realm of schools and universities, if we study well, we’ll pass. We’ll succeed. We’ll praised. In the real world, and in business, if we work hard, if we spend a lot, we may not succeed. But that should not undermine our self worth.

Success or failure is not what determine our self worth. We do. Trying, doing, acting, tinkering is honorable.

Salam, peace.