What is self-validation, and how can you practice it

Defining self-validation - Self-validation is best described as the "act of accepting your feelings and experiences." It is about understanding your feelings and recognizing them as valid.

Defining self-validation - Self-validation is not, contrary to what some people might think, the same as believing all of your thoughts and feelings are justified.

Defining self-validation - Rather, it is about recognizing that your feelings are normal and not judging yourself for having them, even if they are not necessarily justifiable.

Examples of self-validating acts - Acts of self-validation can also include acknowledging your talents and strengths, prioritizing your needs, and saying nice things to yourself.

Be mindful - If you want to practice self-validation, a great first step is to practice mindfulness meditation.

Be mindful - Take some time to slow down and observe your thoughts and feelings as they arise. Make a concerted effort to stay with uncomfortable feelings and not push them away.

Guess when you're not sure - If you are unsure as to what you are feeling about a given situation, it's okay to guess.

Guess when you're not sure - For example, you might say something like, "My stomach is churning whenever I think about going to work, so I must be feeling under a lot of pressure."

Practice radical genuineness - If you are going to succeed with self-validation, you need to be radically honest with yourself.

Practice radical genuineness - For example, "Yes, I feel jealous of my friend’s promotion, and now that I’ve recognized it I am going to focus on congratulating him."

Use self-care - In some instances, self-validation might just be about taking proper care of yourself.

Use self-care - Self-care can mean anything from eating well and exercising regularly to taking a personal day to do something you love.

Talk to yourself like a friend - Another good tip if you find self-validation difficult is to talk to yourself like a friend.

Talk to yourself like a friend - Remember to be as kind and gentle to yourself as possible, and tell yourself all the supportive things you would tell a friend without a second thought.

Final thoughts - Last but not least, bear in mind that self-validation helps you understand yourself better and build a strong identity.

Final thoughts - By learning to recognize and accept your own feelings, you come closer to being your true self and will learn to rely less on validation from others.