Many of us worry about the impression we make on others. Some of us get trapped in a constant cycle of 'comparison anxiety'. Despite knowing that it doesn't benefit our self-esteem, we still can't help but fall into that pattern.
Why do we scrutinize ourselves with such a critical eye? And establish ideals that are challenging to meet. This behavior is partly influenced by the formation of self-esteem and self-worth. According to social researchers, our self-worth is constructed by how we perceive others view us. Additionally, we compare ourselves to others to gauge our standing within our social circle. Consequently, our perceived self-worth is significantly influenced by the judgments of others. This judgment process is further exacerbated by social media, where the quantity of 'Instagram Likes' is starting to correlate with self-worth and self-esteem for a growing number of individuals.
How can we break free from the oppression of constantly asking ourselves, "Am I good enough?"
Firstly, think about whether or not you have an accurate view of how you think other people view you. Is  ‘perception bias’ creeping in; for instance, how much of your self-perception is shaped by your inner critic?
For example, people with high self-esteem focus on growth and improvement, whereas people with low self-esteem focus on not making mistakes.
Secondly, think about how much actual evidence there is for your internalised critical view of yourself? Is it really a fair and true reflection of all of you? For instance, there is probably more ‘right’ with you, than ‘wrong’ with you.
Thirdly, what makes other people’s judgement or opinions the right one? Stop deferring to other people’s judgements,  and start believing it’s your opinion of yourself which matters the most.
Although it is motivating to set goals and have aspirations, constantly comparing yourself to someone or something, might be doing more harm than good. You’re probably undermining your self-esteem, rather than helping it to flourish.
Remember no one’s perfect and beating yourself up about not being perfect isn’t going help. Focus instead on all the things you do well and learn to give yourself a break and treat yourself with the same self-compassion you bestow on friends and family.
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