As I look back on this past year — especially the early days of building and launching Vana Lab — one lesson stands out more than I expected. It didn’t come from a book, a mentor, or a workshop. It came from the very human experience of putting something new into the world.
When I first started drafting materials for Vana Lab — the website copy, the program descriptions, the outreach emails — I shared them constantly with people I trusted. I’d tell them, “I’d love your feedback.”
And they gave great feedback.
Smart, thoughtful, genuinely helpful.
But if I’m honest, part of me wasn’t just listening for improvement.
I was listening for approval.
I wanted the reassuring lines:
- “This looks great.”
- “You’re on the right track.”
- “You’re onto something special.”
What I was really seeking was permission to continue. And in a subtle way, I was also outsourcing accountability: If this doesn’t work, look at all the people who thought it would. It felt safer that way and it tricked me into thinking I needed someone else’s blessing before I could proceed.
Here’s the insight I’m taking with me into the new year:
Take the feedback — and then make your own decision.
Feedback is data.
Validation is optional.
Choice is always yours.
And even better:
You don’t always need validation.
But you always benefit from feedback.
Validation offers momentary comfort.
Feedback creates long-term improvement.
Understanding that difference made the whole process of building Vana Lab lighter and far less emotionally tangled. Instead of being stalled mulling feedback and debating whether I should move forward or not, I could take action to move forward.
Why We Keep Seeking Validation We Don’t Need
We all seek validation — not because we’re weak, but because reassurance feels good. It calms uncertainty. It tells us we’re “okay.”
But validation is comfort, not guidance.
Validation says: “You’re fine.”
Feedback says: “Here’s how this can be stronger.”
One soothes.
One sharpens.
When we rely on validation to make decisions, we end up:
- moving slower
- doubting our instincts
- taking neutral feedback personally
- waiting for permission no one can actually give us
- outsourcing decisions that ultimately belong to us
Unnecessary validation doesn’t make you safer.
It makes you more fragile.
Feedback helps the work improve.
Validation helps you feel better for a moment.
Only one of those leads to growth.
Six Ways to Trust Yourself More (and Depend on Validation Less)
Here are practical steps I found helpful:
1. Before seeking input, ask: “Do I want reassurance or improvement?”
Most of us never pause to identify which one we’re seeking.
If you want reassurance, say so.
If you want improvement, expect honesty.
Clarity protects your emotions.
2. Treat feedback as data, not direction
When you receive feedback, respond with:
“Thank you — let me sit with that.”
It stops defensiveness while allowing you time to decide what you want to do with the feedback.
3. Build a simple self-validation habit
If you validate yourself even a little, you stop hunting for it everywhere else.
Each evening, ask:
-
What went well today?
-
What effort am I proud of?
-
What did I learn?
Internal validation reduces the desperation for external approval.
4. Separate the work from your identity
“This needs improvement” does not mean “You’re not good enough.”
Feedback targets the work, not your worth.
5. Do small “discomfort reps”
Gradually increase your tolerance for feedback without validation:
-
send a draft sooner
-
ask one trusted person instead of ten
-
publish something without waiting for approval
Each small rep builds independence.
6. Choose your “trusted few”
Not every voice deserves equal weight.
Pick 3–5 people whose feedback is grounded, honest, and aligned with your values. — your own “challenge network,” as Adam Grant calls it.
Let their voices matter.
Let everyone else fade into background noise.
The less I rely on validation, the clearer I think and the more confidently I move. People also give better feedback when they no longer feel pressure to protect your feelings.
Instead of asking people whether they like something, I'm focusing on what I'm learning — and moving forward with what feels meaningful for me to pursue, in the way I want to pursue it.
As I look to next year, I'm taking to heart that my decisions - the ones that matter most - belong to me.
As we close out the year, here’s a question worth sitting with:
Where are you waiting for validation you don’t actually need — and what might happen if you moved forward anyway?
If you’re a parent looking for quick tips on helping your child build success habits, you might enjoy the Vana Lab Insights YouTube channel. No validation required — just ideas to support your child’s growth.
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