Social validation might not be a term many would know, but I bet we all know what it means as unfortunately, you can't escape from seeing it every single day.
Social validation is the process by which individuals seek confirmation of their beliefs, actions, or feelings from others, often to feel accepted and understood. This concept plays a critical role in self-presentation and impression management as people adjust their behaviors and opinions based on how they perceive others' responses. By aligning with social norms and expectations, individuals can enhance their self-esteem and foster a sense of belonging within a group.
Without being an expert in the matter, or in social behavior, I can tell you the damage this phenomenon has done already is huge.
Connecting people through social media is one of the biggest inventions of modern times, and excellent idea, but unfortunately the vast majority of people are not ready in any way to handle it properly.
In digital environments, social validation plays a crucial role in shaping self-esteem and identity among young adults. The constant feedback loop created by likes and comments can significantly influence how individuals perceive themselves and their worth. When they receive positive reinforcement online, it boosts their confidence and can lead to a stronger sense of identity aligned with those validated traits. Conversely, negative feedback or lack of engagement may lead to feelings of inadequacy and influence individuals to alter their identities to gain approval. This complex interplay demonstrates the profound impact of online social validation on personal development.
Usually I'm pretty busy and when I'm not, I prefer to spend my time wisely, so wasting time on different platforms looking for social validation is not among my activities, but last week something happened, that made me think of the magnitude of it.
As I mentioned in my previous posts, I'm going through a lifestyle change, that started in November last year and the results are already visible. To give you an example, my jeans look like pre-owned (or pre-loved as @lizelle says) by someone a size or two bigger than me. I keep saying I need a pair of new jeans (or two), but in the same time I've been postponing the decision to buy new pants, because this is not the final weight I want, so the pants I'd buy now would not fit soon, if I keep to my plan. The other reason is, there's a small collection of jeans of all sizes in my wardrobe, that is waiting for me to fit in them, so I'm still on the fence with what I'm going to do.
My appointment to the hairdresser was on Friday and while getting ready, a strange thought crossed my mind. I was wondering if she would notice the loss of weight on me. As I see her once a month, most likely the change would be more visible to her, then to those who I'm interacting on a daily bases, but as soon as the idea popped up in my mind, another followed. I said to myself, why should she notice the weight loss or better yet, why should I care, or why should it matter if she notices it or not? What should it change?
Then I remembered a case I read years ago, of a young mother, who lost around 20 kg and then put it all back because neither her husband, nor his family said nothing and she saw no reason to continue.
It is a sad story and unfortunately not the only one. This was a textbook case of how people don't know why they are doing things, or they are doing things for all the wrong reasons, which then, needless to say, leads to failure.
Emotional intelligence is also a known term, but in so many cases it remains a term, nothing more. I truly believe one can develop a high level emotional intelligence in time, which then can help navigate through what life throws your way. It's not easy, it's a long process and requires a lot of work and dedication, but it's the only way, if you truly want to live your own life and not the one that others are carving for you.
Books and studies can guide you, but at the end of the day, it's your duty to learn about your own self, recognize the benefits of your own actions and acknowledge the dead ends some road can hit.
Living for social validation is the road to nowhere in my opinion and shows how empty one's life is. If you don't find joy in what you're doing without getting validation from others, then ... you're heading in the wrong direction.
In case of weight loss, you should be happy to know, your body is getting rid of the excess fat, you should feel the increasing energy you have every day, just to list a few of the benefits.
Who cares what others say? I certainly don't and neither should you. Find the balance you need for a healthy and happy life and live the life you want. Do things for yourself, not for others. Simple as that.
If you're a newbie, you may want to check out these guides:
- Communities Explained - Newbie Guide
- Cross Posting And Reposting Explained, Using PeakD
- Hive Is Not For Me
- How To Pump Your Reputation Fast - Newbie Guide
- Tips And Tricks & Useful Hive Tools For Newbies
- More Useful Tools On Hive - Newbie Guide
- Community List And Why It Is Important To Post In The Right Community
- Witnesses And Proposals Explained - Newbie Guide
- To Stake, Or Not To Stake - Newbie Guide
- Tags And Tagging - Newbie Guide
- Newbie Expectations And Reality
- About Dust Vote And Hive Reward Pool, by libertycrypto27
