Epictetus, the Greek philosopher, once said, “When someone is properly grounded in life, they shouldn’t have to look outside themselves for approval.”

It’s only when we realise that other people cannot save us from das Nichts that we’re likely to stop living for them; to stop worrying so much about what others think, and to cease giving up the lion’s share of our lives and energies to impress people who never really liked us in the first place.