Let’s be honest — most of us want to be liked. But when does wanting connection turn into bending, shrinking, and abandoning yourself?

In this episode of Girls With Opinions, we’re talking about the deep-rooted need to be liked, where it comes from, and how it quietly shapes the way we show up in relationships, work, and everyday life.

We unpack how the desire for approval often gets mistaken for being “easygoing” or “low maintenance,” when in reality it can look like overexplaining, people-pleasing, avoiding conflict, and saying yes when you mean no.

We also share our own experiences with needing to be liked, how we’ve started challenging it, and what it looks like to choose authenticity over approval — even when it’s uncomfortable.

💬 In this episode:

• Why so many of us crave external validation
• How needing to be liked shows up day to day
• The connection between approval-seeking and self-abandonment
• How fear of being disliked keeps you stuck
• Ways to build self-trust and tolerate disapproval

✨ You’ll walk away with:

• Permission to stop performing for acceptance
• A clearer understanding of your approval-seeking patterns
• Tools to prioritize authenticity over likability
• A reminder that being yourself is more important than being liked

📲 Join the conversation on Instagram and tell us: where are you done trying to be liked?

• Erin: @ErinBurnsWellness
• Kristy: @KristyCastilloFit