Life can serve up a ton of rejections and criticism if you put yourself out there. Every now and then a blog post of mine strikes a chord and gets shared a bit. For a week or so it is flattering to read lovely comments and to see new people find your work. Those days are fewer than the days you hardly get any recognition and then you question if it is all worth it.
We all have a need for the validation of others. We desire to be seen and heard. We require to be applauded and appreciated. We want to be understood and valued. Validation makes us feel accepted and reassured. If we are honest, even as we seek the validation we know it is not good for us, it feels like a sugar rush that we know is not healthy.
We must challenge and defeat this urge together. Unless you confront the urge to be validated, it will lead to deep dissatisfaction and disappointment long after the rush of approval has faded. We need to seek an inner confidence in your values and your purpose in life.
As I said above in the title, validation is for Parking, It is not for you or me.
Sea's The Day 