Freedom doesn’t start when you move out. It doesn’t start when you get a job or pay your own bills. Real freedom—the kind that sets your soul ablaze—begins the moment you stop seeking validation from other people.
It’s shocking how many adults still walk around like trained pets, begging for approval. They freak out if someone doesn’t text back within a few hours. They spiral if they don’t get a like, a compliment, or some superficial acknowledgment. Let’s be clear: that’s not friendship. That’s dependency.
I’m not saying you should live like a hermit. Far from it. A great life requires a strong and diverse social circle. Surround yourself with people from different walks of life—artists, athletes, nerds, hustlers, mentors. Your network expands your mind and keeps you sharp. But there’s a difference between connecting with others and emotionally outsourcing your self-worth.
Some of you are still carrying childhood resentment toward your parents for not validating every emotion, every scribbled drawing, every broken teenage dream. Maybe it’s time to grow up and realize that your parents were probably doing their absolute best. They weren’t villains—they were providers. Working long shifts, skipping luxuries, keeping the electricity on and your belly full. That was their love language, even if it didn’t come with soft words and constant praise.
A mature adult doesn’t sulk over “validation deprivation.” They channel that fire into something real—discipline, action, independence. If your parents were cold, build a warmer home. If they never praised you, praise yourself by becoming excellent at something undeniable.
And if someone takes a while to respond to your message? Good. That means they have a life. That means they’re not glued to a dopamine-dripping rectangle. If your self-worth wobbles because someone didn’t reply fast enough, you don’t need a therapist. You need a wake-up call.
Stop chasing validation. Start building value.
That’s where the real power is.
