Building self-worth without external validation

Building self-worth without external validation (Photo: iStock)

There is a familiar scene that plays out almost every day. Someone posts a picture online and then hovers over their screen, refreshing every few seconds, watching the likes and comments roll in. Each notification brings a spark of joy, a little rush of recognition, and for a while, it feels like proof that they matter. The thrill is real, but it raises a deeper question. At what point does the happiness of being celebrated slip into dependency? And what happens when our sense of identity becomes tied too closely to what others say or do?