There’s something I want to talk about today that comes up a lot in therapy, especially with LGBTQIA+ people: the thin, slippery line between self-improvement and insecurity. We’re constantly told we should be working on ourselves—losing weight, gaining muscle, fixing our skin, staying youthful, becoming "better." But better for who? For ourselves? Or for others to want us?

External validation can feel powerful, but relying on it often keeps us stuck in shame, comparison, and self-doubt. This blog explores the concept of internal validation and why learning to recognise your own worth is essential for Queer wellbeing. Using a compassionate, empowering lens, it looks at how self-trust, boundaries, and inner affirmation can support confidence, resilience, and a more authentic relationship with yourself.