Validation Is a Valuable Motivator

“There’s no greater gift than thinking that you had some impact on the world, for the better.” Gloria Steinem

Isn’t it the best gift ever when we receive validation for our hard work? To have a dream of doing better, to design a plan with benchmarks and goals, to follow our plan with commitment and dedication, this is a reflection of our character and desire for growth and improvement.

The time will come when our dedication to follow-through and making our goals a reality is rewarded. It may be starting a new health routine, improving personal or familial relations, education or career milestones, or having better understanding of our emotions, decisions and behaviors.

To rely solely on validation from others is a lifetime sentence to the fickleness of public opinion that usually results in feelings of unhappiness and leads us on a trail of stress, sadness, indecision and lack of confidence.

And yet, we are human. We all seek validation at some point from our peers and especially from our mentors. I believe it’s the public nod that gives us the confirmation we need that says what we are doing is important. It’s motivating to know that to someone in this great big world our efforts and our service matter.

Most important, it’s evidence that we’re making a difference and we help make the world a better place by striving to be a healthy, happy and successful person. Without a doubt, our personal success contributes to the success of society as a whole.

Let’s be honest. There is nothing wrong with standing out from the crowd and receiving praise for our success but beware the danger that rises when it becomes our sole purpose for doing our work. Stay dedicated to your work and use the gift of validation as a motivator to continue to strive to deliver your best effort day in and day out. Because being your best does makes a difference.

Keep it Simple,
Just Teri

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