‘Validating’ is showing the other person that you understand where they are coming from. (It is not agreeing).
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Sometimes, a short validation is all that is needed. As applicable, you can offer short comments as micro validations. This lets the other person know you are listening, withholding judgment and seeing things from their perspective – without interrupting to offer fuller validations. This helps the other person feel comfortable sharing.
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“Exactly!”
“So cool!”
“What? No way!”
“Oh, no!”
“I’d feel the same way too.”
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Caveat: This doesn’t replace a fuller validation at the right time.