Validation

I was pointed to Seth Godin's latest blog on validation (http://tw0.us/HwV). In which he describes validation as being "overrated" in the workplace. He also describes, or rather encourages, folks to push towards achieving their goals and find fulfillment in, well...fulfillment.

I don't know that validation is overrated. I believe that we all need validation. What matters though is the source of our validation. Certainly as Godin describes we all to often look for validation from our colleagues, or work leaders, or even what we do professionally. On the personal side, many of us look for our validation from our neighbors, or those Joneses we tend to focus on keeping up with. But that is not where we should find our individual validation. There are bigger validators at play than simply our boss, or our peers. But it is up to us to find, define or recognize them.

Around my 40th year was when I was able to truly experience this. I was going through what I have shared with many as a "gray time" at the office. Let's just say that things were not going well for me and that I may have been underdelivering (that's still open to debate). However, from a long endured desert-like experience came my utter reliance on God, and the understanding that His was the sole necessary validation for me. It really was what He thought of me that mattered—and matters still.

Certainly my wife, children, and close friends can show me support, recognition and yes, validation in a wonderful way, but when I really need to understand it and receive it, I gotta get to my knees.