[Customizing checkout fields using actions and filters] Validate WooCommerce custom checkout field

wc-process-checkout-field.php

/**
 * Process the checkout
 */
add_action('woocommerce_checkout_process', 'my_custom_checkout_field_process');

function my_custom_checkout_field_process() {
    // Check if set, if its not set add an error.
    if ( ! $_POST['my_field_name'] )
        wc_add_notice( __( 'Please enter something into this new shiny field.' ), 'error' );
}

According to the woocommerce page: "A checkout error is displayed if the field is blank". But the label of "My Field" has the word "Optional", when I follow the steps there and this code. If it cannot left blank, then it is not "optional", as the label says. So this is confusing for the shopper.

https://woocommerce.com/document/tutorial-customising-checkout-fields-using-actions-and-filters/