Value, Self-Improvement
Value is Validation
Human life is essentially a pursuit of validation. Everything we do, whether for ourselves or not, is driven by the quest for external validation. We cannot truly be something without receiving validation from others. Sometimes we might think that we can achieve anything because we have convinced ourselves of it, or what we might call internal validation. However, I believe that “internal validation” is not entirely our own claim, as our thoughts are largely shaped by external realities.
I assume all my readers are valuable individuals, especially considering how much people today enjoy scrolling through TikTok and watching trivial videos rather than reading articles. Speaking of value, what does it really mean? Is it material things like money, cars, jewelry, and property? Or is it actually immaterial things like honor, job titles, intelligence, kindness, and loyalty?
Life is beautiful until we start questioning it, isn’t it? As children, we didn’t understand the purpose of going to school every morning, but we did it anyway. As we grew up, we realized that attending school shaped our current circumstances and contributed to our personal growth, marked by the knowledge we gained. However, without validation from our teachers, we wouldn’t have been able to graduate, would we?
Consider prisoners, for example. They can be released sooner if they demonstrate good behavior and attitude toward the warden. They need validation from the judges, who in turn receive validation from the warden.
Similarly, patients in hospitals can be discharged more quickly if they show the doctor that their condition has improved, evidenced by specific signs such as walking, speaking, or other normal conditions. This also requires validation from the doctor, who then receives validation from the nurses.
The concept of validation is not confined to a dualistic moral realm of good and bad. I am not writing to argue whether validation is inherently good or bad. Rather, I am suggesting that the systems around us seem to function similarly when it comes to validation and the creation of value. We might not need others’ opinions on how kind or humble we are, but ultimately, others will judge us, even if we remain silent — they assign value to us.
“The sky does not need to explain itself for being high.”
Indeed, the sky does not need to explain its height to us, but it must account to God, who also requires human validation of His existence; thus, He created humans. Shit, this article is going farther. Many motivational speakers say that to achieve our goals, we need tools like money.
From this perspective, I think that to accumulate money, we must become valuable individuals who can provide solutions to problems. The solutions we offer require validation from the market. In the end, it is validation that creates value, which then leads to the establishment of truth. Ah, I might need to revisit Immanuel Kant for a deeper understanding of this. Have a great day, everyone!
