I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss a little bit about the importance of receiving emotional validation from others, and from self, in new parenthood. Let’s first define what emotional validation is. Emotional validation is the process of acknowledging and accepting someone's emotions as real and understandable. It involves recognizing and accepting the person's thoughts and feelings, even if you don't personally agree with them. It involves setting aside your own belief system or bias to support another human in their journey by helping them feel understood and valued.
What does research say about the impact of emotional validation in new parenthood? Research has shown that receiving validation from others can have a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of new parents. One published research study found that new mommas who received emotional support and validation had experienced lower levels of postpartum depression.
What does providing validation look like? Validation can come in many forms; such as, verbal affirmations, active listening, or physical touch. Not only can new parents receive validation from others but they can also validate themselves. Self-validation can be achieved by acknowledging and accepting one’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences for what they are. Let’s use an example, after a long night of being awake multiple times to feed your baby and soothe them to sleep, you find yourself feeling frustrated the next morning when you discover that your partner ate breakfast and left their dirty dishes in the sink. Self-validation could look like you stopping in that moment— taking a breath— perhaps placing your hands gently on your heart center— and telling yourself, “it’s ok to be frustrated right now because last night was a really tough night with little sleep.” Self-validation is an ever evolving practice of being compassionate towards yourself in any given situation.
I believe it is important to note that validation is not synonymous with agreement— it doesn’t mean you agree with the other person. In the emotional support groups I facilitate, group members may validate another’s experience to help that momma feel heard, understood, and appreciated while still honoring that their beliefs may not match hers. Group members can value one another to promote collective healing while still maintaining their sense of autonomy.
Warmly,
Brittany DeNucci
Brittany DeNucci
Comments