I wanted to share this from the article below because of what it says about validating someone, and what they are feeling.
“Validation is considered one of the key components of healthy relationships; it is the simple act of listening, which communicates to another that you understand what they may be going through. Put simply, validation is reflecting what the other may be feeling. When someone shares something with us, we respond with empathy and acceptance.”
Note what it says, words like listening and acceptance. Note also what it doesn’t say, like anything about fixing things or changing their feelings, etc.
I talk often on here about simply being there. Sitting with someone who is struggling. Validation is all about that, and as you can read further, validating someone is maybe one of the best things you can do to keep open lines of communication, help them feel valued, and not dismiss their emotions.
Why would we want to do anything other than that? Why would we continue to do the opposite, making it maybe less uncomfortable for ourselves but damaging the people we say we care about?
Caring means validating.