Nikki Glaser Opens Up About Self-Worth, Success, and the Struggle to Let Go
The Emotional Cost of Always Being “On”
Stand-up comedian and TV personality Nikki Glaser is known for her sharp wit and unfiltered comedy, but behind the laughs lies a deep struggle with self-worth, burnout, and the pressure to always perform. In a candid conversation on Heal Squad with Maria Menounos, Nikki opened up about the emotional toll of living in the public eye and the importance of redefining success on her own terms.
“I’m becoming resentful because the older I get, the more attention I get when I’m putting on the show. I feel like people don’t like the real me, just the version of me they see on stage,” she confessed.
Many performers—and people in general—struggle with this dual identity. The pressure to be “on” all the time, whether at work, in relationships, or even on social media, can lead to anxiety and depression. Glaser’s candid admission highlights a universal struggle: how do we separate our true selves from the personas we create for survival?
The Pressure to Keep Up in a Competitive Industry
For Nikki, the drive to always be productive has been ingrained in her since the start of her career. She admitted feeling immense pressure to keep working even when she didn’t want to, out of fear of falling behind.
“If I don’t take this gig, some other comic will, and I’ll lose my place,” she admitted.
Maria reassured Nikki that this is a common struggle, especially among high achievers. She introduced the concept of resonance versus dissonance, a framework that encourages people to evaluate decisions based on how they feel rather than societal or professional expectations.
“When something feels resonant, you light up, you’re excited, you can’t wait to do it,” Maria explained. “When something feels dissonant, you feel drained, heavy, and full of dread.”
This perspective was a revelation for Nikki, who realized she had been saying “yes” out of obligation rather than genuine passion.
The Fear of Vulnerability and Love
Beyond career pressures, Nikki opened up about her struggle with relationships and self-love.
“I’m still drawn to unavailable people, and the ones who actually like me, I feel repulsed by,” she admitted.
Maria suggested that this could stem from a fear of vulnerability and a deeply ingrained belief that she doesn’t deserve happiness.
“You don’t think you deserve happiness,” Maria pointed out. “You think you have to earn everything. But you don’t.”
The conversation led to a powerful takeaway: personal happiness shouldn’t feel like a reward for suffering. Instead, it should be something we allow ourselves to experience freely.
Practical Steps to Self-Worth and Healing
Maria shared several expert-backed tools to help Nikki (and listeners) move toward greater self-love and healing:
- Reiki Healing with Patty Penn – To help clear emotional blockages.
- EMDR Therapy with Tammy Valicenti – A trauma-focused therapy to reprocess painful memories and shift negative thought patterns.
- Manifestation and Self-Love with Esther Hicks – Practicing gratitude and visualization to align desires with beliefs.
- Resonance vs. Dissonance by Suzy Batiz – Using gut instincts to guide decisions instead of fear or obligation.
The Power of Surrender
The overarching message? Surrender.
For high achievers, the idea of surrendering control feels counterintuitive. But Maria stressed that true peace comes from allowing things to unfold rather than forcing outcomes.
“You have to surrender your need to be all these things that people want you to be. Life is so freaking short.”
This resonated deeply with Nikki, who acknowledged the importance of letting go of the need to constantly perform, impress, or achieve in order to feel valued.
Finding Freedom in Letting Go
By the end of the conversation, Nikki admitted feeling a weight lifted.
“I woke up feeling so depressed today. But now, I feel free. I feel like I actually have permission to do what makes me happy.”
It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best advice is the simplest: trust your gut, be kind to yourself, and remember that you are worthy—without having to prove it to anyone.
For more healing and wellness tips, be sure to subscribe to Heal Squad with Maria Menounos via YouTube or Apple Podcasts.
