Why Seek Validation from Mortals?

It seems that these days we’re all seeking validation from our peers. We look for likes, subscribers, viewers, awards—recognition from others, whether it’s colleagues, friends, family, or strangers on the Internet. I think it’s normal to want to be seen. But the more I detach from this world, the more this all means little to me.

Appease God.

The modern world seeks validation through wealth, modern notions of success, and fame. But what if we think more critically about seeking eternal fame—divine kleos—in the eyes of God alone?

In The Iliad, Achilles was seeking eternal fame. A fame that lasts for thousands of years. We still reference his name to this day. While this worldly fame, through his story in epic poems and literature, echoes throughout history… what if we reframed this notion of legacy and fame toward the divine instead?

If we are all going to die one day, and our inevitable fate leads us to that death where we are alone, does it really matter whether or not you were known to your peers during your brief moment here?

I think most people are seeking to be known. It’s a very normal feeling—to not want to feel by yourself. But when you recognize that you are created in the image of God, it gives you permission to let go of worldly renown. Because after all, it is God who is watching you, from before you were born and into eternity.

You are flesh, but you are divine.

And so the next time you go to post something or do something or share something with the world or with somebody, think to yourself why you are doing so. And if being recognized is something you truly need or desire.

The more you detach from validation from mortals, the more you seek to appease God—the only source of validation you truly need. Because after all, when you go to lay your head on your deathbed, what other validation do you truly need to seek?