self-validation

noun

self-val·​i·​da·​tion ˌself-ˌva-lə-ˈdā-shən 

plural self-validations

: the feeling of having recognized, confirmed, or established one's own worthiness or legitimacy

… it is a glorious tale of wish-fulfilment, confirming that writers really can attain self-validation through the pen.

—Peter Bradshaw

Social media does not cause your lack of self-validation; it can, however, serve as an excuse, delay or distraction … from the fact that you don't validate yourself in the first place.

—Michael Hurd

also : an act or means of achieving self-validation

Researchers believe nodding acts as a kind of self-validation, telling yourself that you have confidence in your own thoughts.

—The Express (United Kingdom)

Taking a loss and getting up the next day to keep fighting … takes endurance and guts. Many cannot resist the temptation to trade that sting for a toxic self-validation.

—Josh Marshall

… I would swipe right on almost every girl, just to see who was interested in me—a form of self-validation …

—Matthew Kassel

Examples of self-validation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Work on building your self-esteem through self-validation and mindfulness. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2024

As a trans man, my journey in self-validation and self-love has been the most challenging and rewarding emotional and spiritual experience of my life. —Sara Youngblood Gregory, refinery29.com, 24 June 2024

There was also, admittedly, an element of self-validation involved in embracing the label, says Gray. —Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2024

The researchers defined quality friendships as those scoring high on help, intimacy, self-validation, reliable alliance, emotional security and stimulating companionship. —Kirsten Weir, Scientific American, 1 May 2011

But frenemies are consistently imperfect, scoring low on factors such as reliable alliance and self-validation, for example. —Kirsten Weir, Scientific American, 1 May 2011

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above