Have you ever hesitated to make a decision because you were worried about what others might think?

Many of us have been conditioned to seek external validation—approval from family, friends, or society—to feel worthy.

But what if your true power lies in validating yourself?

Why We Seek External Validation

From childhood, we learn that approval equals acceptance, and rejection can feel like a threat to our security.

This is especially true for trauma survivors who may have learned to please others as a survival strategy.

However, constantly looking outside ourselves for validation keeps us disconnected from our own truth.

How to Start Trusting Yourself

Identify where you seek validation – Are there areas in your life where you hesitate to act without approval?

Reframe your worth – Instead of “I am good if others approve,” shift to “I am valuable because I exist.”

Start small – Make a decision just for you and follow through without seeking external reassurance.

Empowering Action Step

This week, commit to validating yourself.

Choose one area where you usually seek approval, and instead, make a decision based on what you feel is right.

Journal about the experience and how it felt to trust yourself.

Until next week,
Debbra Blosnich.