Rejecting External Validation

Part 3: You Can't Predict The Future (And That's Okay)

Want to support this newsletter? Subscribe and share From the Desk of Jade Johnson with a friend! To see art videos, get shop discounts and other goodies, consider a free trial or becoming a paid pal for $5. 🥳

This is the third and last part of the You Can't Predict The Future (And That's Okay) series, alternatively titled “Random 12 AM Thoughts” or “Things I Wish I Had Learned Sooner”. Paid pals also get early access to this post. Read the rest of the series about finding your purpose and trusting your instincts here.

Artists love external validation. I know I do! 🫣 A like here or a comment there can buoy me when changing trends and algorithms make creating and posting art feel pointless. Like a beacon guiding me through the social media abyss.

But too much external validation can be detrimental, making me doubt my own thoughts and opinions. This uncertainty is worsened by Instagram where likes and making art that your followers — as lovely as they are! — want to see can make me lose my sense of self.

So what to do about it?

But here are some questions I’m asking myself to reject external validation: