💥 How to Stop Living for External Validation

When you think about striving for external validation, does your mind travel back to your younger self?

I can’t help but think of Little Janel who lived for the praise of her teachers, the admiration of her peers, and who more often than not wished someone would tell her she was doing a good job.

When my snaps back to the present, it’s clear to see where my drive to “do, do, do” came from, and how I find myself with multiple career ambitions competing for my time and effort.

And the truth is, I don’t know a single career-minded friend who doesn’t have a complicated relationship with external validation. The gold stars, the praise, the admiration for doing an impressive job— it’s addicting. And it stems from a disconnection from your own self-worth.

But when does the helpful motivation to do work we’re proud of start to veer into dangerous territory— and how do we turn it around?