--- title: Words of Affirmation description: Courtney Vallejo wanted to think she was confident enough and that she didn’t need people telling her how great she is, but she doesn’t think that’s really the case. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/02/27/words-of-affirmation#) # Words of Affirmation Feb 27, 2017 11:30:44 AM  |  by [Courtney Vallejo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/courtney-vallejo) [!["Words of Affirmation" by Courtney Vallejo (CatholicMom.com)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Worthy.jpg?width=720&height=540&name=Worthy.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Worthy.jpg) Copyright 2017 Courtney Vallejo. All rights reserved. How many of you have heard of *The Five Love Languages*? If you’re familiar with it, it’s a self-assessment where you determine how you prefer to receive love. Do you prefer words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, gifts, or physical touch? Many of us can receive love in a variety of ways, and that can also depend on who is giving the love. For me, I am a quality time and acts of service lover. I would venture to say that if you wanted to fill up my cup, trying one of those would be the best bet, but as I’ve done some more self-exploration I realized maybe I’m not being entirely honest with myself. Before becoming a mom, I worked in a variety of positions, secretary at a variety of places, personal assistant, and finally teacher. What I noticed across the board, was that words of affirmation really motivated me to continue in my jobs and to seek ways to be better in each of them. I wanted to think I was confident enough and that I didn’t need people telling me how great I was, but I don’t think that’s really the case. When I became a mom, I struggled with feeling fulfilled and after exploring those feelings I realized there was a link to not hearing how great I was at my job or how grateful someone was for the ways I had helped them. I know it’s hard to believe but my children weren’t always saying *thank you* every time I made them a snack of folded their laundry. In fact, when they were toddlers, I spent most of my time teaching them to say *thank you*. When anyone says *thank you* because they were encouraged to do it, it doesn’t hold the same meaning as a genuine *thank you*. [tweet "Is our fulfillment in affirmation, or in God alone?"] Ultimately I should be finding my fulfillment in God alone. It shouldn’t matter if anyone says anything to affirm me throughout the day. Unfortunately, I’m still learning that concept and I still seek fulfillment through people and things. What I’m working on now is finding ways to feel fulfilled. I have started homeschooling my kids, and although no one is congratulating me on my great lesson planning, I know that I taught my son to read. I find fulfillment in checking off our to do list of lessons each day. I also find fulfillment when my children are out in public and randomly associate something to what we’ve learned in a lesson. I’m learning that in each season of my life my fulfillment will change, and that proves to me even more, that my desires are fleeting and true fulfillment can only be found in God. He is the only consistent in my life. **What brings you fulfillment in your life? How do you work to find your fulfillment in God?** *Copyright 2017 Courtney Vallejo* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F02%2F27%2Fwords-of-affirmation%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F02%2F27%2Fwords-of-affirmation%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F02%2F27%2Fwords-of-affirmation%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Words%20of%20Affirmation) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F02%2F27%2Fwords-of-affirmation%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F02%2F27%2Fwords-of-affirmation%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Courtney Vallejo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/COURTNEY%20VALLEJO.jpeg) ### [Courtney Vallejo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/courtney-vallejo) Courtney Vallejo is a convert to the Catholic faith. She and her husband are homeschooling parents of three adopted children. She loves speaking at women's groups and Catholic conferences! Courtney is a Barton tutor for Dyslexic children. She writes for her own blog, [CourtneyVallejo.com](http://CourtneyVallejo.com). She is also the co-founder of AMomRevolution.com and has a master's degree in Film Production. ## Related Blog Articles [ God's Plan for My Lent Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/03/25/gods-plan-for-my-lent/) [ Do They Really Grow Up So Fast? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/do-they-really-grow-up-so-fast) [ Keeping Silent Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/01/26/keeping-silent) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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