How to overcome Inferiority Complex?

An inferiority complex is a set of beliefs that we hold about ourselves where we always assign less value to ourselves in comparison to others. It is a composite of low self-worth, doubt, uncertainty, and feelings of not measuring up to standards. Consciously or unconsciously we compare ourselves to others. In this process, we may feel either jealous or inferior, or superior to others. Inferiority complex manifests in our lives constantly and continuously & affects our relationships, performance & our self-perception in a covert & overt manner. It is often unconscious and may arise out of deep-seated insecurities especially when we put ourselves down and put others on a pedestal. When we have feelings of inferiority, we keep comparing ourselves with others and always end up selling ourselves short. We tend to maximize our flaws and discount our strengths. This perspective leads to pervasive feelings of unhappiness, hopelessness, anger, resentment, anxiousness, envy pain, and a feeling of guilt about these feelings. With this complex, the person is unable to overcome the difficulties of life.

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How does the Inferiority Complex manifest?

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The feeling of inferiority is not a disease; it is rather a stimulant to healthy, normal striving and development. It becomes a pathological condition only when the sense of inadequacy overwhelms the individual and, far from stimulating him to useful activity, makes him depressed and incapable of development. People might feel inadequate and lacking for a totally different reason Few probable causes are as follows.

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• Neglecting, overly critical, or shaming parents.

• Bullying, exposure to negative messages in the media, and negative social experiences.

• Low socioeconomic status.

• Discouragement or failure. You are unable to meet the goals you set for yourself whether realistic or unrealistic

• When you feel harassed by your family, partner, or co-workers.

• Inferiority complex is associated with low self-esteem, low self-worth, or a history of depression symptoms.

• The need for perfection

• Someone who is prone to attention and approval-seeking behaviors may be more susceptible.

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Signs of Inferiority complex

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We accept or not, but it is a fact that the way we think, or act is guided by the complexes we have whether superior or inferior. When an inferiority complex is in full effect, it may impact the performance of an individual as well as impact an individual's self-esteem. Unconscious psychological and emotional processes can disrupt students’ cognitive learning, and negatively “charged” feeling-toned memory associations can derail the learning process.
 

• Lack of self-confidence

• Isolation from others.

• Don’t do eye to eye contact

• You may try to control, blame, or harm other people.

• You may be unable to accept compliments.

• You feel worthless.

• Low motivation and self-efficacy, poor self-directed learning strategies, and feeling unsafe or anxious.

• You feel sensitive to criticism. Even constructive criticism will make you feel attacked and will lead to feelings of self-loathing or shame.

• You may experience feelings of anxiety, reluctance to trust others, low self-worth, and fear of rejection

• You imagine negative judgment. Your default assumption will be that other people don’t like you or think you’re valuable, no matter what they say to the contrary.

• You will experience feelings of jealousy and melancholy when you see other people’s happy experiences.

• Feel submissive. You will rarely stand up for yourself (or your view), and have difficulty asserting your needs.

• You try to become a Perfectionist. If something isn’t perfect, you think it’s a failure.

 

How to Overcome Inferiority Complex

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• Figure out whom you feel inferior to in the first place. Normally, very physically attractive, rich, smart people or people with impressive, dynamic careers and large social groups are the reason for an inferiority complex. These people can be your friends, relatives, or celebrities. Next, for each of these individuals, find at least one thing that you have, and they don’t. There will be something!
   

• Try to find the cause of your feelings. Inferiority complexes may come from something in your past. It may be a bad childhood experience, a traumatic event, or a combination of people putting you down over the years. Reflect on your past. Try to remember experiences that could have caused the inferiority complex. Who do you really feel inferior to? You have to look into the deeper reason behind your inferiority complex. Understanding these layers can help you find the root of your problem. And once you understand your feelings better, you can take the necessary steps to overcome them.
   

• Understand that we're all inferior in some ways. Everyone on earth is inferior to someone in some way. Although someone may be the most beautiful and rich person, there will be someone with more intelligence or more compassion. On the flip side, everyone is superior to others in some way. Everyone is a different combination of positive attributes and flaws. Understanding this concept can help you start to view yourself more realistically. The inferiority is made up of and in your head.
   

• 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. Just don't try to be someone else. Be you. You use others as a guide but be true to yourself.
   

• Stop Worrying About What Others Think. The bulk of such complexes come from obsessing over what other people think of you. Sometimes this will relate to things people have said to you, and at other times it will be all about what you imagine they think. We oftentimes find problems with ourselves based on if others find us good enough. This isn't healthy thinking. At the end of the day, only your opinion of yourself matters. There are researches that show that when we feel good about ourselves, others feel better about us in response.

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• Build Your Self-Confidence. Make a list of ten things you like about yourself and pin it up where you’ll see it every day. Include things from all facets of your life. There are a lot of things that make us up. You will have increased security and self-worth and you cement subconscious beliefs that you are valuable and worth taking care of.
   

• Positive Self-Talk. The term “self-talk” refers to how you speak to yourself in your own mind; This internal voice has an enormous impact on how you see yourself and your actions. Don't think of yourself as stupid, ugly, unsuccessful, a failure or anything else What you need to do is locate negative self-talk, eliminate it, and replace it with self-affirming talk.
   

• Surround Yourself With Positive People. Remove toxic people from your life.in order to surround yourself with positivity. Nurture the friendships in which reciprocal listening, kindness, and responsibility are present. Find people who are just waiting to help you find the best version of yourself.
   

• Stop comparing yourself to everyone else. People with inferiority complexes spend too much time comparing themselves to everyone around them. You can't compare yourself to someone else, because everyone has a different background-genetics, family, circumstances, and opportunities.
   

• You need to be kind to yourself. Try to be kind. Practice self-care for your mind, body, and soul as well. Eat healthier food. Practice meditation. Go out and enjoy the things that you love doing.
   

• Don't think in absolutes. Inferiority complexes make us think that if one thing could change, our lives would be great. Possession of material and superficial things won't magically fix the problem. Focusing on the strengths, values, and positive assets you possess. Learning to accept these things can help you move towards a happier life.
   

• Practicing Assertiveness. People with inferiority complexes may seem timid at times because they feel as though their contribution is negligible. In the workplace, don’t be afraid to share your suggestions or concerns – at home, don’t be afraid to share your feelings. Be assertive.
   

• Learning to Say “No”. Saying no is incredibly difficult, especially for someone with an inferiority complex. People who feel as though they are lesser than everyone who surrounds them may say yes to every task that is thrown their way, and as a result, become very stressed or overloaded with work. Saying no may mean as something as small as saying no to going out to lunch because you have work to do, or saying no to an extra project because your workload is already
   

• Confront your biggest fears. Any comments from people you receive are invalid and must be ignored at all costs.
  Feeling inferior is banished with love and admiration when we see other people through a lens of love and not fear – our inferiority complex fades, fast. So next time something happens that triggers you – a friend lands a killer job, take that dream trip, sincerely congratulate them. When good stuff happens to other people it just means that it’s possible for you, too! 
   

• Master your mind. Self-help books, educational podcasts, and inspirational blog posts are huge sources of inspiration and help in dropping the inferiority complex.