Almost everyone deals with some form of insecurity. It’s a normal part of human life, but it can get in the way of some opportunities and dreams. We convince ourselves we’re not good enough or don’t have what it takes — and those thoughts become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
How do you break the cycle and free yourself of your insecurities? There isn’t necessarily an easy or tried-and-true cure, but there are habits you can integrate that may help you start on the path toward healing and success.
Learn Where Your Insecurities Come From
Before you do anything else, try to give yourself a hard, objective look. What are your securities? Where do they come from? Many insecurities start from childhood due to family circumstances, while others are rooted in societal expectations or social media idols.
Before you can start trying to conquer your self-doubts, it’s important to identify them and realize why they exist in the first place. Understanding can lead to empathy, and you might be surprised how many people forget to show the same empathy to themselves that they show to others.
Show Yourself Compassion
If your close friend came to you feeling down on themselves because of a mistake they made, would you treat them badly or try to make them feel worse for it? Chances are, you’d offer a listening ear and words of compassion and understanding. It’s up to you to apply that same compassion and love to yourself. You deserve it just as much as anyone else.
Acknowledge Your Successes
Some people struggle to take pleasure in their achievements, focusing instead on the areas of their life where they fall short. Everyone has their own sets of strengths and weaknesses, including you. If you catch yourself dwelling too much on your mistakes or failures, remind yourself of an accomplishment that made you happy.
If you succeeded at something today, take some time to reflect and allow yourself to enjoy it. Every little achievement matters because it can help remind you that no matter how inadequate you feel, you’re still getting the job done.
Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others
We look at people in our lives or those on social media, and we see perfect bodies, perfect lives and perfect families. If we try to live up to those standards, we may start to feel like we’re not enough. This is an illusion.
Those people’s lives may look perfect, but you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who actually felt that way about themselves. Most of the time, comparing yourself to others is more harmful than it is helpful. Everyone is on their own life journey, and you’re allowed to set your own pace and do what you feel is right for you.
Catch Negative Self-Talk
When you start feeling down, negative self-talk can come along and cause you to spiral into your fears and insecurities. To avoid this, you can work on catching yourself when those intrusive thoughts enter your head. While it takes time, this may eventually help you curb the habit of beating yourself up when you make a mistake.
Self-doubt is an obstacle many individuals face, but it doesn’t have to define you. By following these steps, you can take control of your insecurities and learn to use them as tools for growth. Give them a try and start on a path toward a healthier, more successful life!
~Here’s to Your Success!
Copyright 2019, MotivateDaily.org
