Recently I had a comment on my post, How to Validate Your Spouse’s Feelings.

It read:

“How do I validate my wife’s feelings when I disagree with the facts she is basing those feelings on? I understand the feelings but want to help her recognize the distorted facts so she doesn’t have to feel hurt.”

I thought this was a great issue to bring up and I’m grateful for this man’s desire to gain clarity on the practice of validating. You see …

Validation is not agreement. 

;I know that sounds counterintuitive, but validation serves a different function in communication than “negotiation” or “processing through an issue” does. Validation helps the speaker to feel heard, understood and often results in comfort and connection. But healthy communication doesn’t have to, or even should, stop with validation.

Validation is like the oil you’d add to a bone-dry engine, so that when you do drive your car {address the issue}, it runs smoothly.

When the time is right, and the conversation to come is bathed in prayer, discussing the issue with a respectful tone and active listening in an effort to find resolution can often be the best course of action. If you’ve had difficulty navigating a conversation on this subject in the past, then it might be best to find a counselor or life-coach who can walk with you through the process—offering a neutral and skilled third party to the equation.

Here’s a video my oldest son, Jordan, found recently that kind of pokes fun at this problem called, “It’s Not about the Nail.” It must be quite the sensation on FB, since my good blogging friend, Elizabeth, over at The Warrior Wives also posted this video on her blog and spoke to the issue of validation just the other day.

I almost changed my plans to publish this, but decided to go ahead since Elizabeth gave me her sweet encouragement to do so. And I do hope that I’ve brought some different thoughts to the subject. So if you haven’t already seen the video, it’s very short and totally “hilarious!” This one’s for all of you fix-it guys {and gals} out there! 

;Photo by LadyDragonflyCC – >;< – Spring in Mich… (3,579)

Joining with NOBH, Marriage Monday, Works for Me Wednesday, To Love Honor and Vacuum and T.G.I.F.
 
Now, it’s time for Wedded Wednesday!

WW rules:

1. Write in any way you feel inspired about marriage, parenthood or anything that reflects Christ’s redemption in your life. 
2. Enter in a permalink directly to your blog post and not the main URL to your blog. 
3. Be sure to include a link to Wedded Wednesday or add the WW button to your current blog post and/or sidebar.
4. Visit and comment on at least one other person’s blog that’s linked up here.

Optional but encouraged:

• Consider setting up your Gravatar profile and Disqus Profile with a link to your blog … it makes it so much easier for all of us to find those of you who blog!
• If you have the time, visit those who visit your blog and comment at their place as well … sort of a “Say it forward.”