Validation

In the moment that I reach over to hand the CD, USB, iPod, whatever medium to the consumer I think my heart skips a beat. I have truly learned what being an "artist that's sensitive about their ish" really means. You pour a lot of you into the music that you create and at the time when you're ready to let another person in on it, it's a very vulnerable place to be. We want people to like it!!!! No matter how much you tell yourself that the music is for you and blah blah blah, most of us wouldn't be in this if we didn't want to share our stories and ideas with the masses and hope that they too might identify with if not all of it a piece of what you're presenting to the world.
Validation is something that drives this whole business. Artists, producers, executives, writers ... we all want to be validated. By our peers, by our superiors, by that random person walking down the street bobbing their head to our song in their headphones. We are constantly looking for approval. I've noticed when I play something for someone I probably don't breath until they start to nod their head in agreement to what they are hearing. And it doesn't stop. You might think that it is only a downfall to being the person who is trying to "make it." But it's not. There have been plenty of times when people have played things for me seeking my opinion and in my head I'm thinking "What the hell do you need my opinion for???" I mean these are seasoned writers and producers but they constantly have to make sure that what they are doing connects with that counterpoint in another person.
And so I'm not really sure what the point I am making is. lol. But it's just an observation I made after being told that "it constantly seems like I'm trying to pass a test" when I am presenting an idea. I'm seeking agreement, validation that most other people are often seeking as well ... why?