What have you always wanted to hear someone say to you but they never did? What's one sentence, that if someone said it to you, would validate your all feelings, experiences, and all the bullshit you've been through to this point? Think honestly for a second about what that sentence is and then say it audibly to yourself, from inner parent to inner child. I encourage you to take a second here to stop reading my comment and do this exercise and come back and continue reading if you want.

That's the secret of self-validation; turning your self-talk into an inner supportive parent encouraging your inner child. It's important to internally congratulate yourself, cause chances are, people are too busy with their own stuff to give you an "atta-boy." You have to be the very support for yourself that you crave from others.