Validation

 Honestly, the first thought that comes to mind when I hear the word validation is “free parking!”  And while free parking is always a wonderful thing to receive, it’s not all that this word means. 

Here are a few “official” definitions I found (thank you dictionary.com!):

1.     to make valid; substantiate; confirm

2.     to give legal force to; legalize

3.     to give official sanction, confirmation, or approval to, as elected officials, election procedures, documents, etc.:

Synonyms: authenticate, verify, prove; Antonyms: disprove

So what got me thinking about the word validation?  This wonderful short film (if you haven't seen it, it is 16 minutes well spent in my book!):

My "mission mom," Syster Newell, is the one that first introduced me to this clip (Zone Conferences were the best!) and I am so glad that she shared this with the mission.   

We all search for that validation in our lives.  We all want to feel like we have worth and that we are valid.  In my experience this is the often the main motivation between people's actions

Thinking back on relationships (romantic or friendship based) - we always want to feel like our feelings and actions are valid and often we would seek validation from the other person in the relationship.  So this would be why I would want a boyfriend to tell me that he cared for me and show that he cared.  This would be why I would want to spend time with friends that actually wanted to spend time with me.  You want to be with people that make you feel good.  It's simple human nature!

Now what does this mean for me?

The main thing is that I need to ask myself, "Am I helping others feel valid?"  Especially those that I care about.  And to do this I need to love.  Love others and to importantly start with myself.  Change happens from the inside out.  If I want to make an lasting difference and it doesn't matter if others see this in me or not, I need to start with myself and work my way outwards.  We all are valid.  We all have worth.  In fact, we have infinite worth.  We have a divine heritage and a divine potential.

We don't actually need to seek validation, because we've already been validated and found valid.  We just need to recognize and remember it for all that it's worth!