Being self absorbed (negative term) is the perfect solution to low self esteem. People can only wound you if you care enough.

Besides, I'm sure your lovely wife is really the highest prize one can win in boring, and equally self absorbed, America. Simply remind yourself that few men have good wives. That their insanity drove them to depths of depressing despair. Little does one need to prove when one has little else to gain. Respect among your masculine peers? Bah! peers are useless and not usually desired for anything other than their gifted purpose (pressure). Every man ought to be an island. In your case, with the very good wife, it'd be a very lovely half blue half pink island. Simple pleasures here and there, greater pleasures in between, and what else should you prove to anyone of any meaning?