For years, I thought being strong meant being agreeable.
I said “yes” when I wanted to say “no.”
I smiled when I was breaking inside.
And I learned to perform “I’m fine” so well that even I started to believe it.

In my recent interview on the Victim 2 Victor Podcast with Anu Verma, I shared how people-pleasing and overachievement often mask unresolved trauma—and what it really takes to live honestly in a world that rewards pretending.

We talked about the emotional toll of performing for approval, the cost of staying silent, and the courage it takes to finally tell the truth—to yourself and to others.

From Perfectionism to Radical Transparency

For a long time, I equated perfection with safety.
If I could just do everything right, I thought maybe I could finally earn love and acceptance. But instead, perfectionism became its own form of prison—a way to outrun my pain that only kept me trapped in it.

Through healing, I learned that authenticity isn’t a single act of courage. It’s ...