"Do we need validation?" answered (at least for me)

These days, validation has been appearing as a hot issue around me. It first rose when I was in a casual discussion with my friend who has worked for music industry for years. We were talking about music industry and the artsy stuff I do and eventually reached the point where I suddenly asked him, "Do we need validation?"

Being a persistent (and not to mention, intellectual) person he is, he came up with several arguments. Being a stupid yet determinant person I am, I still said to him that what I needed was only self-satisfaction. Though when I went back to my room, his words stayed on my mind and I even began to dare to admit that I do need validation.

To begin with, I was highly influenced by a certain stigma on that word. I don't know why but today, it seems validation is seen as craving for attention. But my friend's arguments seriously have opened my eyes and made me more open to validation.

Validation comes in any form, abstract or concrete. The abstract one surprisingly occurs more often in our daily life. The way you want your friends to laugh at your joke, or the way you want your lover to compliment you wearing a new shirt can be seen as a validation. Such simple things and they are very normal, very natural.

Another example. In this digital world, engagements on your social media posts are the embodiment of this abstract form of validation as well. I suppose it would be a lie if I tell you that  we do not expect any engagement when we tap that Upload button. This is when you unconsciously aspire to be affirmed by your surroundings. When you post a photo of your birthday party and your friends love that photo, realize it or not, you feel that your happiness is valid.

Meanwhile, the concrete form obviously comes in more 'existent' objects. GPA, certificate, award, reviews from critics.... you name it. This is something that is related to how competent you are and how your competency is proven with layered assessments.

Going back to art, validation is mainly debated because art is said to be an abstract object, hence the presumed insignificance of being recognized. Let us get this clear. Some artists are truly doing their art for themselves, yet it gives no harm to seek for one, especially the concrete one. I think it will make you understand you and your art better. Also sometimes one thing that holds someone away from validation is fear.

When you get used to creating for yourself, you build things on your own standard. With validation, at first it might seem like you work on other people standard but no, it's not. When you accept the V word, you have other ground -- even more solid ground -- to stand and create because you know where is your loop hole, where is your attack point, what is the weakness and the superiority of your work. You still say "fuck people's opinion"? It may be because you are not smart enough to sort which to ignore and which to listen to.

Nevertheless, this is just my two cents though. Day by day I am turning into an industry person and perhaps this is changing me and I do not say that this point of view is applicable for everyone. Maybe there are some people out there who really don't need it, good for them. But for now, I won't be too hard on validation.