The approval of others is meaningless when it is based on a lie. No one worth having the respect of will be fooled or impressed by fakery, and that includes yourself.
Your self respect is hard-won and easily lost. Every move you make to please others by pretending you are something you aren’t is a move away from respecting yourself. Don’t sell your birthright for a mess of porridge by pretending that you are someone you aren’t. If you aren’t impressed with yourself, it won’t matter what anyone else thinks about you. If you don’t like who you are, nothing anyone else thinks will make you feel better about yourself—at least, not for very long.
Live to know you are who you know you could be, and you will have the confidence and courage of a lion, even if you are the only one who believes in, admires, or respects you. If you are impressed with yourself, it won’t matter what anyone else thinks about you. If you like who you are, nothing anyone else thinks will make you feel worse about yourself—at least, not for very long.