The Trap of Seeking Approval

Recently I saw the question, "Why do we seek others' approval?" 
There are many answers that we could posit to this question, including the fact that we are social animals, that seek to be enjoined with our culture, society or the tribe that we see ourselves as belonging to.  We could also say that approval allows us a certain degree of well-being and sense of belonging, a sense of being a part of something larger than ourselves.  Also, we may say that without the approval of others, or society, we would not be able to meet our basic needs such as clothing, shelter, etc.  If we are cast out of our tribe, our chances of survival may be limited.
As we come into the vicinity of seeking what is true and real and lasting in ourselves, there comes a time when we see that the attempt to secure approval and shun disapproval has been at least only slightly successful, most likely though it has ended up a disaster.
The disaster that has arisen from seeking approval and shunning disapproval is that we have spent our energy and attention on protecting and defending and improving our 'selves' in the name of survival, or in the name of what needed to be done.  But the drive to protect oneself, or to seek approval is the by-product of egoic consciousness, the consciousness of ourselves as these limited bodies with their personalities,  etc.  The seeking of approval has been based on a sense of unworthiness, and a sense that, "if I am just loved enough, I'll be ok"  But we have to look deeply to honestly admit to ourselves how successful this effort really has been.  In all the attempts to secure approval and avoid disapproval, has it actually worked?
The trap of seeking approval is the  trap of trying to maintain and secure a 'somebody' that is purely a mental creation...an image, a version of one's self.  The trap is so subtle that we may not even be aware that it has happened, but if we look closely there is a very strong conditioning that seeks to gain approval, and avoid disapproval.  To consciously root out this conditioning is to stop directing attention at gaining approval for this 'somebody' that you are, and to stop avoiding disapproval of that 'somebody' that you think you are.  This is an invitation to die to the image you've created of yourself and to discover the silent spaciousness in your being that can never be approved of or disapproved of...it is eternally whole and complete.  That death can feel painful, it can burn, but it is the pain and the burn of liberation.