Three weeks ago, James Shone (I Can and I Am) focused his Blog around the term VALIDATION. I have been thinking about the impact of being ‘validated’ means for all of us and especially for our young.
Can you imagine how you would go about your every day life, knowing that you were valued, acknowledged and respected because you are you. Can you imagine how self assured you would be if you knew that you are accepted and seen as worthy, even though you make mistakes. It is not all about accomplishment, but about you as a person irrespective of your background, your education, your home life, and your success academically or within the workplace.
I think that if our young felt truly validated, they would feel the freedom to be courageous, absolutely genuine, safe to reach out and ask for help, comfortable to receive help, to weather the ups and downs of life and to be able to keep persevering. Any pretence to try and be like somebody else would fall away. I think that a young person would feel the massive relief of the burdens of feeling ‘not enough’ … and would let go of all that belittling self talk. In fact, I think that the internal chatter would be one of graciousness, forgiveness and encouragement.
So today – to yourself and the young around you. Notice, acknowledge, compliment, and let’s view each other through lenses of respect and appreciation! Even things that appear insignificant are significant.
- Give yourself credit for what you have done and are doing – give yourself a truly genuine complement, and keep doing so!
- What would being gracious to others look like? Be gracious to yourself.
- Make it a habit to look for the good in others, no matter what. And see the good in you!
“it is not only accepting, it is also believing in our young people”…. We all count, we all matter, we all have so much to offer.