Not sure about "normal" as I don't think there's any such thing. But for me anyway, and I'm the only one for whom I can speak of course, is that it's validating - validating that how I feel is real - in my particular case because of constantly having my feelings belittled, made fun of, put down, punished, dismissed etc. as I was growing up. It's helpful to me to have someone compassionately acknowledge that my feelings are real. Sorry if I went off on a tangent.