Much of our lives is driven by the craving for approval. This desire is so powerful in our lives and shapes so much of our behavior. It could even be called an addiction. We confuse approval with love, which it isn't. No matter how much approval we receive, it never truly satisfies. We always want more. We intensify the feeling by telling ourselves stories about how awful it is not to be approved of. We base our identity upon it. We allow it to generate feelings of revenge. Basically, we cling to the wanting of approval for dear life. What we do not realize is that as soon as we learn to identify the painful feeling and let go it go, real satisfaction and love are only a  few steps away. .