What is Validating?

We have talked about validation a lot lately. Sometimes when you talk about something a lot it starts to become confusing.

Actually, let’s start with the opposite. When it is communicated to a person that they should not have the experience they are having then they are invalidated. Our experience of an event is a combination of perception, thoughts, feelings, actions, etc. Validation, then, is the process of communicating that it is quite alright to have whatever experience you are having.

All feelings are welcome. How we think about them and how we act on them once they’re with us is an entirely different matter. But there is nothing inherently “wrong” with being furious (for instance). Life circumstances are going to make us furious, from time to time.

Validation is the process of communicating to another person that, however it is they are responding to life circumstances, their response is natural.

And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds. 25 Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25, CEB