Tuesday, 21 February 2017

How to overcome inferiority complex

 We all fall in the trap of comparison wherein we inevitably compare ourselves with others.  This comparison does more harm to us than good. This does not mean we stop looking up to others. But there is a difference between learning from others and simply comparing yourself with them and then feeling, ‘Oh! Wish I was like her!’

Anyone in the world, big or small, fat or thin, black or white, can feel somewhat inferior to everyone else at times during their lives. We tell ourselves that we aren't good enough, pretty enough or smart enough, but these comments are in no way based on facts. Luckily, there are lots of simple steps you can take to overcome an inferiority complex.
What is Inferiority complex

An inferiority complex as the name suggests is a complex in which an individual has overwhelming feelings of inferiority. While we all have weak points and areas of ourselves which could be improved, the person with an inferiority complex will fixate on these weaknesses and use them in order to evaluate their overall worth. As a result of their real or perceived flaws, they then see themselves as generally less important, successful or accomplished as others and of course this can have many negative impacts on their lives.
In some cases inferiority complex can lead to overcompensation and this is the best scenario. Here the individual does everything in their power to overcome their perceived inferiority and this can mean that they end up in highly successful jobs, amassing great wealth and succeeding in powerful relationships. However while such a person might be a high achiever, a sense of inferiority will mean that they will always be less happy than they could be and it may have other negative impacts on their life.

Dealing with Inferiority complex

First of all you must determine the root cause for your inferiority. Determining the root cause for your inferiority is an essential step that can help you get over it quickly. Try to recall your childhood and remember the bad experiences you have been through. In many cases these bad experiences might be buried in the unconscious mind because of the pain associated with bringing them to the surface.
After determining the root cause of your inferiority complex you can use the following methods to overcome it:
1.       Negative Self Talk
Negative self-talk are the phrases or words you use while talking to yourself. Whenever you find that you are using phrases like: "I know she/he won’t accept me because I am ugly" or "I am the worst dressed person in this party" just stop and fix your self-talk. Positive outlook of yourself is a very effective method that can help you fix your negative self-talk and get over your inferiority complex.
2.       Build your self confidence
As you work through your inferiority complex, you need to start building self confidence. Start by fixing your mental image of yourself. Inferiority complexes are based on false ideas about ourselves. Try to remind yourself that this image is false and doesn't portray the reality. Remove labels you have attached to yourself. Don't think of yourself as stupid, ugly, unsuccessful, a failure, or anything else. Refuse to use them when you think about yourself.

3.       Try not to worry about what others think.
Inferiority complexes arise from our constant concern about what others think about us. We oftentimes find problems with ourselves based on if others find us good enough. This isn't healthy thinking. Stop worrying so much about what others think about you. Only your opinion matters. Sometimes these judgments are real, but many times they are imaginary. Focus on making yourself happy without worrying about what others think. And try not to make up people's judgments.

4.       Stop wanting to be like others.
Inferiority complexes are rooted in the desire to be just like someone else. They make you want to be someone you're not. If you try to be someone else, you aren't being true to yourself. This doesn't include limiting yourself and trying new things. Just don't try to be someone else. Be you. You can get inspired by people. That means you look up to them and take some of their traits and put them into yourself. But the important difference is you are still you. You aren't trying to copy someone else or be someone else. You are using them as a positive guide while still being true to yourself.

5.       Fix your mental self image
In some cases when a person feels inferior his self image becomes affected too. Yourself image is the image you have for yourself in your mind. Sometimes this image gets permanently modified as a result of the feelings of inferiority a person experienced. Fixing your mental self-image is one of the most powerful actions you can do to combat the inferiority complex. When the inferiority complex is based on a false belief (such as thinking that you are stupid/ugly) then fixing the mental self image will certainly end the inferiority complex. Once you convince yourself that you were fooled and that you were carrying a false belief you will be able to get rid of your inferiority complex.

6.       Surround Yourself With Positive People
The problem with an inferiority complex is that it often attracts the wrong kind of relationships and these might be the kinds of relationships who will try to take advantage of your nature or who will act as a leach on your self confidence. Often other unconfident people will associate with you and will try to put you down in order to make themselves feel better. You need to make sure that this doesn't happen and recognize when it is happening. If you do have people in your life who are critical or bitchy then you don't need them in your life right now – one of the best things you can do is to cut them out of your life for now until you have gained more confidence – and explain to them why so that they can change.


7.       Stop comparing yourself to everyone else.
People with inferiority complexes spend too much time comparing themselves to everyone around them. If you do this, you will come up with a never ending list of ways people are better than you. You can't compare yourself to someone else, because everything about your life and circumstances are different - from the family you were born in, to your genetics, to your opportunities.

8.       Improve Yourself
If you are upset with your lack of confidence, or with your physique, or with your intelligence then don't worry – these are all things that you can improve with practice and there are many other ways to boost your confidence too. The answer is not to wish that you were different but to take action and to turn yourself, and your life, into what you want it to be. The great news too is that it's never too late to start and there are plenty of great role models you can look up to who have achieved a lot at almost every age. Find role models, set goals, and work to make yourself into what you want to be.

9.       Take Up a Hobby
The problem with an inferiority complex is that you look at one flaw in your personality or one area in which you are not as talented as you could be and then you generalize that or inflate its importance so that you completely lose your confidence. The solution then is to find one thing that you are good at and then to get your self esteem and your confidence from that. For instance then you might choose to take up a sport or woodwork, and then you can practice getting better at that and gain more confidence from that area.


Source:
Healthguidance
Wikihow




                                                                                                                                                                

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