In this solo episode of Filter Optional, Chico West gets deeply personal about fear, insecurity, ego, recovery, and the human need for approval.

Inspired by a reflection from spiritual writer Henri Nouwen, Chico explores a question many of us wrestle with but rarely admit:

Why do we seek validation from other people when we're already loved and accepted by God?

Drawing from nearly 37 years of sobriety, recovery principles, and his own recent experiences, Chico vulnerably shares how quickly fear, comparison, and the desire for recognition can pull him away from peace. Whether it's social media, professional recognition, relationships, or feeling overlooked, he explains how the search for external affirmation often leaves us empty, anxious, and disconnected .

This episode is a powerful reminder that true security isn't found in what others think of us. It's found in reconnecting with something greater than ourselves.

Key Points

• The difference between horizontal relationships and a vertical relationship with God

• Why fear and insecurity often drive the need for approval and validation

• How ego can become "Edging God Out" and pull us away from peace 

• What nearly four decades of sobriety have taught Chico about fear, surrender, and spiritual growth

• Why vulnerability is at the heart of stepping into the messy middle

• The connection between recovery, faith, and emotional wellness

• How comparison and social media can trigger feelings of inadequacy and exclusion

Takeaway

The approval we chase from others will never fully satisfy us. Lasting peace comes when we stop looking horizontally for affirmation and reconnect vertically with our faith, purpose, and identity. When fear and insecurity show up, they can become invitations to return to what truly grounds us.