12/15/2025
~The Power of Validation~
When you have tried to share your feelings, have you ever heard “just stay positive” or “don’t think about it”? Instead of feeling better, you feel more alone.
In Inside Out, Bing B**g (Riley’s imaginary friend) felt the same way. Joy tried to cheer him up, trying to distract him, and it didn’t work. Then sadness took a different approach. She didn’t try to fix the situation or make him happy. She listened and validated his feelings by noting “That must be really hard.”
Sadness helped Bing B**g sit with his feelings, providing validation that his feelings were okay. Sometimes, listening and being present can mean more than distraction or advice.
