The Power of Self-Validation: Understanding and Practicing It for Emotional Well-Being

Discover the Benefits and Techniques of Validation for Better Relationship with Yourself and Mental Health

What is validation?

Validating someone means accepting and believing someone else internal experience. It's an essential aspect of every relationship as it fosters a sense of understanding, to see to be seen, and to hear to be heard, along with safety. Validation does not mean you approve of someone else's thoughts, feelings, and decisions; it simply means that you see what someone else is going through and understand how they got to this point. This doesn't mean you have to agree with them, but you've understood that you can't tell someone how they should experience something.

In the end, validation simply means seeing someone and their experience without judgment or trying to fix someone. Feeling that your internal experience has been seen and understood is a beautiful experience that reduces anxiety, restlessness, and overexplaining. Giving and receiving validation in our relationships is important as it's a big part of feeling mentally and emotionally safe around someone, which builds the foundation of emotional intimacy.

What is self-validation?

The beauty of validation and its positive impact on you is that you can give it yourself. You can accept and witness your own internal experience (thoughts, feelings, desires). You can make yourself feel seen and understood. Self-validation does not mean you have to approve your thoughts, feelings, or desires, but you notice them. Feelings aren't facts, and thoughts don't reflect the truth. Nonetheless, validating your thoughts and feelings is essential, as they do much more damage if denied and suppressed. Your feelings and thoughts, justified or not, carry a lot of information about yourself; allow yourself to notice them, acknowledge that they are present, witness them, and by all means, don't judge them away.

In this article I will answer the following questions in detail:

• Why self-validation is important?

• Why do you have trouble self-validating?

• What does self-validation sound like?

• How can I learn to self-validate?

• How can I further explore my internal experiences?

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