Confirming or recognizing the worth, accuracy, or legitimacy of someone's feelings, thoughts, or experiences. It provides emotional support through acknowledgment and acceptance.
From Latin 'validus' meaning 'strong' or 'powerful,' derived from 'valere' (to be strong). The word evolved from legal contexts meaning 'to make legally sound' to emotional contexts meaning 'to make psychologically sound.'
Validation is a fundamental human need - when someone feels validated, their nervous system literally calms down, moving from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest mode. Lack of validation in childhood can lead to lifelong struggles with self-worth, while consistent validation builds emotional resilience.
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