Overcome an Inferiority Complex. 5 Tips
Ever felt intimidated when entering a party, a boardroom, or even your place of employment? You aren’t alone – that feeling of inferiority is surprisingly common. Having an inferiority complex is the perception of inadequacy that steams from either real or fictitious sources. And it just so happens that a lot of it is just imagined because our inner critic likes to be our worst enemy.
Having an inferiority problem means: an unfounded sense of general failure brought on by real or perceived underachievement in one area, which is sometimes accompanied by compensatory behaviour.
Does the definition describe you? Well, the good news, is that there are ways to get your confidence back – let’s take a look.
Feeling inadequate
Other people can sometimes make us anxious because they make us feel weak and inadequate. This ranges from upper management at work, romantic interests, strangers at parties, popular individuals from school or the workplace, and even social media.
The feelings we hold about ourselves that we are not good enough, clever enough, or fascinating enough can frequently be triggered by people we admire (or simply people we don’t know who seem cool). Remember, we are all equal.
When your inferiority complex manifests itself, keep these key facts in mind:
1. It’s not them; it’s you.
The source of our fear of others is us, not the other individual. Knowing this helps us to let go of it. When we feel inferior to someone, we are eager to judge them. We elevate them to superhuman status and assume that their lives are ideal. That they are faultless. That they are all-knowing. Understanding that this was caused by your thoughts is the best method to break out of this – because actually, they have nothing to do with it. Your inferiority mentality is something that only you can create.
2. All people have flaws, worries, and insecurities.
The notorious Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, wrote in his autobiography, “I’m insecure and humble, and I embarrass easily… But I refuse to show it. If I had to choose between embarrassment and death, I’d choose death. So, yeah, I’m a weak, imperfect person.”
All of us experience inadequacy complexes. It’s a major factor in why so many well-known individuals struggle with addiction. It can be the reason that they pursue unhealthy forms of relief because they are consumed by feelings of inferiority and imposter syndrome.
To learn more about imposter syndrome – read our article here.
3. Stop giving power to your ego.
Nerves and intimidation are just your lesser self speaking. Or the obnoxious roommate in your head… give them an eviction notice!
Distract your thoughts when you experience analysis paralysis or when your inferiority complex starts to bubble up because someone else is richer, thinner, or more intriguing. Try doing an activity you love, going for a quick walk, or giving a supportive buddy a call. Stay away from those negative thoughts. You have the option to quickly swap your mindset.
4. You do you!
Always try to focus on what you have, rather than what others have, in order to use your energy effectively. An inferiority complex is then kept in its proper place – out of sight and out of mind. Stop to think, if you were to be envious of someone, would you also want the less attractive aspects of their life too? Most likely not. No one is perfect.
Think about the aspects of your life that you value most. There are so many things to be thankful for, we just have to open our eyes to them. By showing gratitude for your life, you’ll kiss goodbye feelings of inferiority because you can’t have feelings of appreciation and inferiority at the same time!
5. Show yourself some self-compassion
The best method of personal help is compassion for oneself. If you make a mistake, no problem just ask yourself: what did I learn? There is no need for your inferiority complex to raise its ugly head. Take something useful from each small setback because there is no such thing as a life without errors. If you believe you may have done something wrong or hurt someone’s feelings, could you swiftly apologise? If not, why not let it go? Put it down to being human and concentrate on the next task.
Summary
In the wise words of Eleanor Roosevelt, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
We hope the above tips are useful and help you make some changes to your overall confidence. However, if you are really struggling with feelings of interiority and these are interfering with your daily life, it may be time to seek some help. Reach out to our friendly team to speak with one of our psychologists on 1800 327 477 (AU) / 0800 327 477 (NZ) or click here to book today.
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