It’s very true, I do often need social motivation/a community to spur myself on, all the successful times in my life have been when I’ve had external motivators like that. I have often beat myself up about it because it feels like feeding my ego, and also it feels like a double edged sword - disappointment or discord with that external motivating person, especially a perceived sense of rejection, can have a dramatic negative effect (at least for me). But that shouldn’t stop me from reaching out while being realistic with expectations. I have been blessed to have one of the most lenient and supportive supervisors I could get…