Climb Mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world.
— David McCullough Jr.

When it comes to things that can drive people to greatness, one of the reasons I often hear cited is the desire to prove people wrong. Quotes like these come to mind:

  • "The best revenge for people who criticize and doubt you is to prove them wrong."
  • "The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."
  • "When people doubt you, work harder to prove them wrong."

Many people have accomplished great things with this mentality. The outcomes you see from people who talk about how they used people's doubt to fuel them to greatness are impressive and cannot be discounted.

However, while I understand why that mentality is attractive, I am writing this post to address the dangers of being seduced by this mentality.

1. It's about them. Not you.

The whole point of motivational quotes is to inspire you to grow as an individual. However, with the focus on "proving them wrong," the focal point becomes about your doubters and your haters.

Assuming you can even prove that they're wrong, getting them to admit they're wrong is an entirely separate matter.

And does this mean that the success of your efforts depends entirely on whether you can prove them wrong or not?

2. It gives the wrong people power over your path.

While there's nothing wrong with being motivated to prove that you can do something that others say you can't, it's important not to let this become the primary driver for your work. The reason is simple: you are placing yourself at the whim of others who clearly do not have your best interest in mind.

3. Your goal is not merely to prove people wrong, but to continue on to bigger and better things.

One of the most significant issues I see with this mentality is that it typically relies on drawing from energy that's usually negative.

"Good! Your hate has made you powerful" Star Wars meme

The most common emotions when faced with the criticisms of haters and doubters are resentment and anger. If those become the things that drive you towards your goals, there will come a point when it will drain you of what makes you great.

There's a fantastic scene from one of my favorite anime, Hunter x Hunter, that illustrates this concept all. In pursuit of becoming a hunter, an applicant manages to finish one of the trials on times but dies promptly after. And the commentary from another applicant is just spot on,

Idiot. Should've given up and tried next year.
Hunter x Hunter - Chapter 23 - Page 13: Depiction of a hunter applicant who finished the trial, but died promptly after crossing the finish line.

Don't forget that your goal is not to merely cross the finish line. If that's where your journey ends, what's the point in crossing the finish line? Remember that your goal is to cross the finish line with the energy and ability to continue on to your next great thing.

Closing thoughts

While I've listed some of the flaws of this mentality, it's important to emphasize once more that it's not something to avoid entirely. It can be helpful motivation to draw on occasionally, but remember to keep it from defining and/or consuming you.

Keep faith in the path you're on and your ability to do it. You got this.