“If your work is filled with the hope and longing for applause, it’s no longer your work–the dependence on approval has corrupted it.”
I know I re-post Seth’s work far to often. But he is so spot-on this point, especially for creative/artistic endeavors.
Most, if not all, artists struggle with this on some level. Many artists talk of the other person in their head. The future 3rd party viewer of the work. Some of this “talk” is helpful, it allows the artist to attempt to switch between being at one with their art, caught up in the viseral, immediate qualities of the materials, and stepping back and being objective and critical about their art. Toggling between these two “me”s helps me move a piece forward.
That said, working to win accolades is a whole other matter. First and foremost, you have absolutely no control over what another person thinks of your work. To chase this down is to never feel success or empowerment to create your work.