I went to therapy almost every day for a year and I learned a lot.
About myself, about other people, and about interpersonal relationships.  One of my favorite things that I learned was the word “validation” and one of the best things I learned was what it meant in regards to what we expect or want from other people.
Validation in regards to interpersonal communication is essentially being acknowledged.
It’s so simple, and yet it’s something we don’t always do for each other.  Validating someone’s feelings can prevent an argument, it can reassure someone, it can be so comforting to be validated.  It’s what friends do for each other.  It’s what parents do for children.
But what if someone won’t validate your feelings?
If someone won’t validate how your feeling it should raise some red flags, and definitely cause you to start evaluating your situation.  But here’s a secret, you don’t need that particular someone to validate you.  Of course we want to be validated, especially from people we care about, but someone withholding validation from you can be a form of manipulation.  So don’t allow that.
And if you do need to be validated, I got you:  You’re worthy. You’re worth it. You deserve the best in life. You’ve got this!
Don’t let someone hold their approval or validation of you over your head.  You are so much more than that!
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