Acharya Prashant addresses the conflict between being true to oneself and the need for social validation. He begins by questioning the source of this validation, asking, "Whose validation? Which people?" He points out that if one seeks validation from peers who are at the same level of consciousness, there is no point in it. He illustrates this with an analogy: if one wants to learn tennis, one would not seek validation for their backhand from a grocer who is unqualified to give it. Similarly, for matters of life, one must go to a "life teacher," not just anyone. The speaker clarifies that seeking validation is not the problem; the issue is seeking it from the wrong sources. The central problem is the lack of "high company." He advises getting into the company of those who matter, whether they are living or dead (through their books), and asks if a figure like Vivekananda would validate one's thoughts or actions. To achieve this, one must first stop listening to fools. He explains the paradox that if you choose to live with fools for pleasure, you must also bear the suffering of listening to them. You cannot have one without the other. Ultimately, the speaker identifies the core issue as the ego, which finds comfort in lazy and wrong company. This ego must be challenged. The solution is to develop discretion—to learn when to listen and when not to listen. Not everybody's opinion matters. One must be selective and choose their company wisely, seeking out those who are truly worthy of providing guidance. This involves having a deep, mad love for greatness and an ego that is always thirsty for an ascent.