"praise kink" is completely normal but kinks are sexual. how much validation you need and who you seek it from outside the bedroom is what makes it normal or not. if you would like your partner to tell you they appreciate you, thats normal. if you go out of your way to people please everybody because you desperately need everyone and their their mother to love you, that's not.

learn to live life based on what *you* want and *you* like, and seek company with like minded people. not everyone is going to like you and that's ok. don't pretend to like something you don't or give up something you do, to make others happy. wear the weird neon shirt that caught your eye. eat the extra piece of cake. buy the sparkly cup. the only one responsible for your happiness is you. if someone else doesn't like it, too bad for them. don't live for others' approval, live for yourself

try and form your own opinions about yourself, and don't bother basing them on others. if it's true than be it if not it's irrelevant

OP, we all want validation and praise when we have earned it. That’s completely normal, however some people are more needful of this than others. I suggest you see a professional counselor or psychologist if the degree of this is interfering with your life… Personally, as a child and as an adult I learned to evaluate my own efforts and results and find satisfaction in knowing I had done well. But that doesn’t come easily to everyone - It may take a professional to help you deal with this.

wanting to feel special is totally normal. unfortunately a lot of people don't get it from outside sources. the best thing you can do is realize that you are a good person and happy with yourself. if you need to feel better, just you tube people being idiots. you should feel great about yourself right away!

When you say "regularly", how often are we talking? I'd like to be complimented for a good performance at work, but I don't expect it on a daily or even weekly basis, just when I've gone beyond my limits. And what exactly are you seeking validation for? Also a work thing? A new haircut? New clothes? It's fine to accept the compliments when they're given, but basically begging for it for any reason is just sad.

sounds like a narcissist that doesn’t want to compliment you gaslit you into believing you have a problem. it’s not you. it’s them