Acharya Prashant explains that most people live in a state of dependency because their happiness and self-image are derived from external sources. When an individual relies on others for validation, such as a job offer or a compliment, they grant others the power to control their moods and mind. This dependency creates a constant state of fear because what is given by the outside world can also be taken away. He points out that identities based on achievements, religion, family roles, or professional degrees are fragile; if the external factor collapses, the individual's sense of self collapses with it. He distinguishes between two ways of looking at oneself: in terms of what one has versus what one is. What a person 'has'—wealth, titles, or social status—is external and temporary. However, what a person 'is'—their intrinsic nature—cannot be taken away. True self-sufficiency arises when one stops bothering about external accumulations and understands their own essential being. Acharya Prashant concludes that only a person who is self-sufficient and fearless is capable of true love, as love is reserved for the intelligent and the brave, not those who live in constant fear.
