How do I, a man in my mid-30s, learn to live without the praise and external validation I used to get as a child? I never grew out of that need and haven't been the same since I graduated high school.
>>34622764
>>34622764You try to give to yourself. Tell yourself good job when you've completed a project. If you reached a big milestone or something, celebrate my buying a cake or smth you enjoy as a reward. In the future, your spouse might praise you too; I always tell my wife that I'm impressed and proud of her when she does stuff
>>34622764create things and contribute to the world with things that will make people compliment you for your craft. sucks but internal locus of self esteem with unconditional basis doesn't exist for adult men. you have to do something people like in some way
>>34622764Be good at your job, your relationships, your interactions with others and be appraciated for them
