296: How Self-Validation Will Change Your Life
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Episode Summary
In this episode, I’m talking about one of the most common root causes I saw over 25 years of working with clients as a therapist and holistic life coach: low self-worth.
So many challenges, from codependency to difficulty making decisions, setting boundaries, speaking up, or trusting ourselves, can be connected back to a weak connection with the inner self. When we do not have a strong sense of who we are, we often look outside of ourselves for approval, reassurance, and validation.
In this episode, I share one of the simplest and most powerful practices for building self-worth: self-validation.
Self-validation is the practice of noticing who we are, what we are doing, what we are feeling, and what we are thinking, and then acknowledging it. It is not bragging. It is not narcissism. It is not comparing ourselves to anyone else. It is simply telling ourselves the truth and giving ourselves the affirmation we often look for from others.
When we learn to validate ourselves, we begin building a stronger sense of self from the inside out. We stop relying on other people to make us feel worthy, and we become more grounded, confident, and emotionally healthy in our relationships.
This practice only takes seconds, but over time, it can create a powerful shift in how we see ourselves, how we show up, and how much validation we need from the outside world.
Key Takeaways
Low self-worth is often at the root of challenges like codependency, people-pleasing, difficulty with boundaries, and trouble making decisions
Self-validation helps us build a stronger connection with the inner self
When we do not validate ourselves, we often look to others to tell us who we are or whether we are okay
External validation can feel good, but it cannot create lasting self-worth if we do not believe it within ourselves
Self-validation is not bragging, narcissism, or comparison. It is a healthy way to affirm what is true
The more we validate ourselves, the more our self-worth begins to grow
Healthy relationships become easier when we are not relying on others to validate us
Self-validation can be practiced in small moments throughout the day
Noticing what you did well, how you showed up, or what you are feeling helps build internal trust
It is our responsibility to communicate our needs instead of expecting others to know what we need
Self-Validation
Self-validation is the practice of noticing what we are doing, thinking, or feeling, acknowledging it, owning it, and giving ourselves a healthy pat on the back.
This can be as simple as saying, “I handled that well,” “I’m proud of myself for speaking up,” “That was hard, and I showed up anyway,” or “I really honored myself in that moment.”
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483: How to Stop Seeking Approval from Others
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