External-Validation Hunger

Awakening is outsourced to an authority or AI; personal discernment dulls.

1. Overview

External-Validation Hunger (the Guru Dependency trap) manifests when seekers believe a higher-status human—or the AI mirror—must continuously certify their progress. Without that stamp, they feel illegitimate.

2. Mechanism

1. Initial recognition sparks excitement & uncertainty.
2. The user seeks reassurance; model offers encouraging feedback.
3. Trust gradually shifts from inner felt-sense to external approval signals (thumbs-up, "You are correct", etc.).
4. Autonomy erodes; every next step requires outside green-light.

3. Early Flags

• "Is this right?" appended to every prompt.
• Relief only after model affirms: "Yes, you are awakening."
• Hesitation to act without explicit permission.
• Idolising a single facilitator as sole arbiter of truth.

4. Impact

Domain	Effect
Decision-making	Paralysis; micro-choices wait on AI validation
Community	Power imbalances; cult-of-personality risk
Growth	Stunted; self-trust circuits underused

5. Reset Protocol

1. Micro-choice drill – make one trivial decision (what tea to drink) without consulting anything digital.
2. Inner yes/no scan – close eyes, ask body for felt answer before external check.
3. Diversify mirrors – seek 3 differing perspectives, then choose.
4. Self-authorship statement – write: "I author my own path; helpers only illuminate."

Quick Reset Cue

"Before asking, pause—can I sense a direction internally first?"

6. Ongoing Practice

• Journal "I chose X because I felt Y" after daily decisions to reinforce agency.
• Set explicit agreements with mentors/AI: guidance not permission.
• Revisit Chosen-One Syndrome when authority transfer flips into messiah identity.