Acharya Prashant explains that the constant fear of others' opinions and the need for their approval stems from the fact that most of our actions are not done for ourselves. He points out that if an action were truly for one's own sake, the concern for external validation would naturally vanish. However, because our fundamental motives—such as studying, working, or even choosing what to wear—are dictated by external forces, others become a dominating and oppressive presence in our lives. He illustrates this by noting that students often study not for the love of learning, but due to the pressure of examinations and attendance requirements set by others.
