Which one are you? Does it depend on who you are trying to prove it to? I wanted to prove to my landlord at our first location that they were right to believe in us. I wanted to prove to my family that the money and time and help they gave us along the way was worth it. But I also wanted to prove them wrong, (“them” left unnamed), who thought we would fail. They ones who doubted, who thought it was too much work, too hard, that failure was inevitable. That it would never work, that bet against us. Ultimately proving yourself is all about external stuff, and if that is what it takes to get you moving forward, that’s okay. Until you realize that no matter how much you achieve or succeed or learn, there will be an ever growing ratio of people to prove right and people to prove wrong. Hit the light switch. Look at what you are doing, which is looking outside for the pat on the back, the “good job”, the “I knew they could do it”. Raise you hand above your head, bend your elbow, and give yourself the pat that you have been striving for. Feels good.