“Edit yourself for approval, and you become a minority shareholder in your own life.”
—Shane Parish, Author of the Farnum Street Blog
Image from Unsplash by GRAY
Every time we soften our truth to avoid judgement we trade authenticity for temporary peace — and lose creative control.
The more we tailor ourselves to meet expectations, the less of us remains in the story.
It’s emotional outsourcing: our worth becomes dependent on others’ applause. Approval feels safe, but it slowly dilutes your ownership of identity.
Reclaiming a majority stake means embracing discomfort, disagreement, and self-trust.
It’s not rebellion — it’s alignment.
You don’t owe everyone your edited version. Living uncut invites respect, not rejection.
Don’t let fear own a controlling interest in your life’s direction!
EXERCISE:
Where in your life are you shrinking yourself to fit in?
In what ways can and will you choose honesty over approval to reclaim a larger share of your soul?