Unleashed

Inferiority complex, at some point in our life, belittles us. Understanding the term ‘inferior’ will give you the hint of what inferiority complex means.

Inferiority complex refers a feeling of doubt and inadequacy that comes from the overcompensation of other’s achievements or specialties over yours. This feeling is often subconscious. This can take over one’s self-esteem and affect one’s behavior and action. Based on Alfred Adler's theory of psychology,, feeling inferior is a healthy motivation. Receiving criticism or witnessing someone doing a performance better moves you to work on your weaknesses, and motivates you to become more powerful in a classist society. This is another reason why we have this so-called ‘role models’ and ‘inspirations’ to determine ourselves. This allows you to develop and become confident.

Inferiority complex is linked to social comparison. Social comparison is a process when people evaluate themselves in relation to others. This approach allows us to distinguish our characteristics and help us to build identity. We rate ourselves like scales to determine similarities and differences to know with what group we fit in.

Ms. Precy Calvez, a guidance counselor from Malayan Colleges Laguna, says,”Sa taong may inferiority complex, mababa ang tingin nila sa sarili o low-profile.”

However, too much inferiority can become unhealthy. Instead of inspiring you, inferiority complex cripples you, thus impacting your usual action and behavior. It makes you to feel worthless, to be overly submissive, and to attempt perfection in fear of failure. This also links to social anxiety, an intense fear of social situations which results to fear of being judged and criticized by other people.

To generalize, inferiority complex avert the positive sides of social comparison. Motivation becomes a distraction. Your will to improve becomes obsessive where it turns unhealthy for your well-being.

The root cause of inferiority complex varied depending how one is raised and treated. Ms. Calvez said that people who were bullied or heavily criticized by their families have low self-esteem, thus making them prone to develop inferiority complex. Usually how we are raised affect the growth of our confidence. People growing up under high expectation and criticism by their own families may restrict their self-development. Inferiority complex is also formed from having a negative mind frame. People with negative mind frames display behaviors like pessimistic emotions and self talks. They are bombarded with negative thoughts and realities, that weakens their confidence.

Having to live up with inferiority complex shunned your lifestyle and career. Inferiority complex can hinder your full potential in dealing with tasks and performances. The hunger for achievement and perfection forms into a fixation, making you preoccupied over things that you think you lack. It also caused peer pressure among peers that could gradually lead to mistrust. And it mostly added to the reasons of an unbearable stress.

Are there ways to overcome inferiority complex? Yes, there are! After asking some recommendations from Ms. Calvez, here are suggested steps to help you boost your self-esteem:

Learn in a positive perspective.

Celebrate small victories. Appreciate simple succes. It is a simple way to reward yourself for facing daily challenges. Passed a long quiz? Finished a group project? Got a chance to talk with your crush? Petted a cat on the street? Record them and consider giving yourself a treat for what you did.

Go along with positive people. Know the people who you are acquainted with. If you think these people you are making you insecure of yourself, meet people accepts and motivate you.

Spend time with yourself. Revert your mind away from the unnecessary thoughts. Ease your stress. Hobbies are effective stress relievers. You draw? Draw what’s in your mind. Like reading? Read your favorite novel. Want to keep your hands busy? Write a poem or bake a cake. Sports can be a great method to motivate yourself. As your health improves, so does your mental health.

Communicate. It is both effective and beneficial. Opening up problems is never easy. Chat with family and friends. It may seems hard to talk about deep personal thoughts because of the stigma of being called out as “sensitive” or “drama queen”. Don’t overthink of the outcome of what they will think in return. Sharing your thoughts can even bring you closer. Bottling these problems can break your self-esteem. Even with the existence of social media, dealing these with actual people is more effective than what is posted and tweeted on your timeline.

Forgive and reconcile. Forgive yourself, others, and your past. It may seems hard to forgive but sticking to the past can make you a weaker person. Don’t let the fact that you were bullied in elementary stunned your growth. Instead, see it as a previous level where you made it alive. Reconcile your previous mistakes and wrong decisions. Accept them as lessons learned after meeting defeat. Then move on. The past already happened, so focus on what you can do about the present and future.

Last but not the least, stop comparing to the point where it becomes an obsession. The more you compare yourself, the more you look down on yourself. It can’t be helped honestly for people to compare, but rather than comparing your flaws or insufficiency, focus on what you can improve.

There is no need to feel bad if you have inferiority complex. Inferiority complex can be overcome starting from the very self. Stop doubting yourself that you are not good enough. Everyone has their own flaws but most importantly each as their own strengths that should be acknowledged. Only you can control how you live your life, not under the underlying criticism of what others might think of you.. Get rid off your weights dragging you down and face reality with an iron fist.

Sources:

interview with Ma’am Precy Calvez from Center of Guidance and Counseling

Wood J., Interpersonal Communication, 2013 (page 51)

Bernstein D., Essentials of Psychology, 2014

King L., The Science of Psychology

http://shynesssocialanxiety.com/inferiority-complex/

http://www.uncommonhelp.me/articles/do-you-have-an-inferiority-complex/

https://students.com.ng/how-to-overcome-inferiority-complex-as-a-student/

http://josephomotayo.blogspot.com/2009/11/7-signs-of-inferiority-complex.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4193149/

http://iceskatingresources.org/Inferiority.html