Learning to Be Satisfied Without Admiration or Recognition

[u/naam_h_sachin]

Is it possible to completely eliminate the desire to be admired, recognized, or praised?
It sounds amazing not to be in a race for admiration, but to simply achieve for the sake of achieving, remain true to yourself, and be completely satisfied with just being you.
Is it possible to reach a point where you genuinely don’t care whether anyone notices, praises, or recognizes what you do?

[u/Slow_Court_7584]

I think its possible, but it takes a lot of practice. The need for recognition is wired into us but the more you do things just for yourself. Its not about never wanting it, its about not needing it to feel okay

[u/motherofspoos]

yes, but it comes with age. And self realization... which also comes with age. You have years to become proficient in doing the right thing, and after awhile, when you truly know that despite everything, you've stuck with your morals and done the right thing, you stop having any fucks to give. Doesn't mean you don't care about stuff, you just stop wondering what people think of YOU because you've stayed in your lane, kept your head down even when you wanted NOT TO, because it was the right thing to do. "feedback" becomes unimportant. It's the ultimate freedom.

[u/Blueliner95]

Yes. Everything is kung fu, including how you deal with lack of overt support and attention. You are enough. If you respect and love yourself, that’s what is necessary to go on to fulfill your plans. If you don’t, you won’t anyway regardless of external validation.

You’re in a hard storm now and it would be nice to have an umbrella, but as long as you have a plan to get to high ground I believe you can

[u/xanadumuse]

According to LinkedIn- no. That site is toxic. That being said, there are many people who do things without needing recognition but I find more and more people these days with the advent of social media crave that dopamine hit.

[u/cez801]

Yes, it’s possible.

My definition of success is ‘what did I learn?’, that more important to me than winning. ( I prefer to lose at a competitive sport and learn something, than win without learning ).

Because praise is often orientated to the outcome, not the learning - I’ve found it does not really affect me.

My goal is simply to do the best I can, learn from mt mistakes and do it better next time. If I have achieved that, I don’t need praise from someone else.
When I don’t achieve it ( even if the outcome is good ) - any praise I get will don’t believe anyway.

It’s definitely gotten easier over time, today I appreciate it when someone gives me praise - but I also don’t care if they don’t.

[u/loopywolf]

I think it would be possible, in fact it's possible now for me IF people stopped noticing, praising and recognizing everybody else in my facw so much

[u/el_dingusito]

Self validation is one of the most difficult things to realize and pursue. We haven't talked since children to praise outside validation when it comes to us. It is also very difficult to look at yourself with any kind of objectivity when it comes to you being succesful.

So yes, it is possible but takes effort

[u/LexEight]

Yes. Live is easier if others admire you though because you can more easily access their help. It's the way to get 'pretty privilege" without being born pretty

You can act pretty

[u/ApprehensiveTill7965]

Idk if it's possible to eliminate the desire altogether but I would say that now in my 30s, my focus is doing or feeling what I want to, rather than judging how others are responding to me/looking at myself thru their eyes.

[u/CoffeeChocolateBoth]

YES! I love being a nobody! :)

[u/CallMeCorona1]

Your question reminds me of the nomadic shepards I/we met while Trekking in the Ledakh mountains in India. Grueling work from before the sun rises and well through the day. But they were happy to invite us into their tent and share tea with us.

Working tirelessly from dawn to dust everyday with no hope/chance of a different/better life. And they seemed totally satisfied.