When a person takes being accepted as a condition for survival, the mind will activate the "people-pleasing mode": suppress emotions, deny needs, and hide the true self. In the short term, this leads to stable relationships, but in the long term, it causes self-loss, emotional exhaustion, and a sense of emptiness. The mark of psychological maturity is not being accepted by everyone, but allowing oneself not to be liked by all. Relying on others' approval as a source of value over time weakens self-boundaries. People begin to suppress genuine feelings and cater to expectations; they may be superficially accepted, but internally they become increasingly empty. True security comes from no longer needing to prove one's existence by being liked.