The primary confusion is whether it's better for her to simply get the benefits of my sacrifices without always knowing I am even making a sacrifice out of love, or if it's better to show her how much I love her by pointing to my sacrifices in order to remind her that I devote every day to her happiness and not my own.

You sound wonderful. This insecurity speaking. What you're really asking is "how will I know if I'm making her happy? " or rather "Am I enough? ". Everyone struggles with this and it all comes down to whether or not you believe your partner when they say that you are in fact making them happy.

Peace and Prayers to you. Self doubt can be so destructive, if you can try to have faith and believe that this love is good and won't hurt you.