“Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.” Psalm 37:5-6
I am an expert and my work speaks for itself.
For my undergraduate studies, I went to an HBCU (the best one, actually… #HailState). And for all the memories I made there and all the good times that helped make me who I am… there are some less fun experiences as well. The one that comes to mind today is one that’s shared across school lines, as all of our institutions of higher learning have some sort of process for making sure your paperwork is in order for the school year… welcome to Validation. For all my four years it never failed, the Validation process required standing in some long line (lines for some) with you name, ID number and some paperwork to prove you were supposed to be there. And as much as we all hated it… we weren’t not going to do it and have our journey to diploma disrupted if we can help it.
Validation works like that in other areas of our life sometimes, too. Only now, we don’t have nearly as much patience for it and it comes riddled with anxieties. Why? Because now you’re not a young college freshman with nothing but dreams of the future. Now you’re established and learned and you know what you’re doing. Maybe you’re seeking validation in the workplace, because that one co-worker keeps calling into question your performance and knowledge base. Maybe it’s in your personal relationships, and no matter what you do the other person doesn’t seem to reciprocate your feelings or feel the love you say you have for them. Whatever or whoever it is… it’s causing you to fight fiercely to prove you are supposed to be where you are. And what’s probably worse? Making you question if you’re right. Nothing about that feels good, and depending on the who and how, it can be extremely painful to have to prove over and over again your worth. I want better for you. Let’s affirm.
Affirmation 1: I am embracing Validation. You know how hard you’ve worked, and what your worth is. Embrace that self validation, first. Nobody knows what you know better than you. Nobody knows what you feel better than you. Nobody can just walk in and undo the hard work you’ve put in over the years to get to this place you’re in so don’t let them. Don’t let their uncertainties and insecurities change who God has brought you thus far to be. The scripture says “He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.” (Psalm 37:6) God put you where you are. He gave you those gifts. He gave you those opportunities. He has validated you! Who’s approval can be any higher?
Affirmation 2: My work speaks for itself. When you’ve put your all into something it can be very very tempting to want to stand next to it and call out all the reasons you deserve to be there. Stop requiring that of yourself. Let your work do what it’s designed to do… reflect your efforts. Whether its professional life, personal life, school work, group projects. Stop telling everybody what’s up, show them. Think back to that Validation line. You’ve already done the necessary work to be there, now they just need the document. They don’t need to you to yell and scream in the line about how you don’t want to be there, they don’t need you to explain every component. They need the basics to push you through, check the box and send you on your way, validated and ready. All that extra is just stress for you.
Friends, I appreciate you, and you’re so valuable and valid in my life. Without you, I don’t have as much reason to write, so today, I validate your presence as my reader and I thank you for your commitment to me. I encourage you to let your work speak for itself and to embrace the validation that God and your hard work has already provided you with. I love you, and I’m always rooting for you. Keep conquering daily!
EMBRACING EMOTION: THE BLOG 