What I'm about to post here isn't going to make me any new friends, but try to understand that when I go into intergender dynamics on this forum, or any other in the 'community', I never post with the intent to exclude myself or my marriage from the equation. If I have a pet peeve when it comes to respondents to thread topics, it's got to be the "not-in-my-case" personalization anecdotes that attempt to prove a global, general point. As much as I'd like to hold up my personal conditions as a good example for establishing a perspective, I know all too well that things change, often traumatically, and what we think is some solid truth about our life or relationships can turn to resentment in a moment.
Having said that, one thing I consistently observe in people in long term relationships is a constant need for justifying their conditions. In my lifetime I have been a beta, a white knight, had the scarcity and saviour schemas, been the cheater and the cheated on, had ONEitis several times, believed in the soulmate myth, and have been to the edge and turn back from it. I've also enjoyed being an Alpha (albeit unaware at that time), being a minor league rock star, tapping HB9s, and enjoyed sex with over 40 different women. I'm a father and a husband, I've gone from working crap jobs to being consulted with by millionaires, I've gone from ƒucking substandard entitled princesses to swimsuit models to one woman who deserved the ring, yet through all of this I know damn well who I'm dealing with, what I'm dealing with and the mechanics behind all of it. I'm not so arrogant to think I've got it all figured out, but I know from experience what people are potentially capable of. This applies to my career, friends, family and women.
I am a provider. I am an Alpha. I know why both are attractive, and I know that while they are not incompatible they are attractive for different reasons. The guy who's been a beta for his entire life wants to redefine Alpha to fit his conditions. In fact he has to redefine his providership as Alpha to maintain congruency in his life. In light of all the personal sacrifice and selfless devotion that's required of him to be the "good provider" there has to be some rationalized trade off. And this becomes particularly necessary for a beta who's aware of the brutal truth that his personal condition can potentially change on a moment's notice.
If others consider me an Alpha then most of that is the due result of coming to terms with the fact that everything is conditional. Pride comes very easy to guys who consistently provide, but self-pride is necessary in the face of a lack of appreciation. Your wife, your children, any family members you may support, even your ƒucking dog, can NEVER appreciate the sacrifice, determination and doubt you endure and overcome in order to accommodate them - all in the shadow of knowing that if you cannot provide for them your relationship with them will fundamentally change. You want to be an Alpha provider? Accept that truth.