Have you ever looked at a part of your body and thought, “I wish this was bigger” or “That was smaller?” Perhaps, it’s that part of yourself you’d do anything to eliminate. Well, you’re certainly not alone. Virtually, almost everyone you meet has had insecurities at one point in his or her life.
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According to the United Nations Development Programme report in 2022, “six in seven people worldwide are plagued by feelings of insecurity.”
Humans, they say, constantly have a pile-up of insatiable wants and desires. This means that the average human will always want a better look, a better height, a curvier body, bigger biceps, a more sonorous voice, and the list is endless.
However, when that scar on your face or that sound that accompanies your voice every time you speak becomes something to be ashamed of, and then watch out – your insecurities are getting the best of you.
Insecurity is a feeling of not being good enough, a feeling of inadequacy that affects the self-esteem of many people. This is usually a result of a speech impediment, height deficiency, skin flaws, or certain perceived weaknesses.
Insecurity is not the same as an inferiority complex; however, it is a building block to it. An inferiority complex is a state of mind that makes a person perpetually feel insignificant or incapable of being or doing something significant, because of their insecurities.
There Are Two Major Types Of Insecurities
Gender-based Insecurities: When it comes to gender-based insecurities, a lot of women seem to top the records compared to men. This explains why a beautiful-looking, naturally slim woman, would go to great lengths to acquire “a guitar body shape.” On the other hand, an average-looking guy, who barely makes 5’5″, would walk up to any girl of his choice and say to her face, “Be my woman,” without being the least intimidated.
Personality-based Insecurities: These insecurities can stem from various factors, such as social awkwardness, a lack of confidence in one’s abilities, or a fear of public speaking.
According to the Girls’ Attitude Survey, which involved close to 1,300 respondents from ages seven to 21, the total proportion of those surveyed who were displeased with their appearances rose to 33 per cent in 2013, from 29 per cent in 2012, and 26 per cent in 2011.
When Insecurities Transcend Into Inferiority Complex, Insecure Person Is Likely To Have:
A depressive mental health
A strong aversion to criticisms
Feelings of rejection
Blindness to their potential
A tendency to transfer their insecurities to close relationships
An insecure person is also likely to be timid or possess a crab mentality, that is, always wanting to bring down those they feel measure up where they fall short.
Most Common Signs Of Insecurity, Inferiority Complex Include:
An unquenchable drive and passion for perfection at all times
Deriving one’s self-confidence from external things like a makeover or a compliment
Always wanting to be alone
So, how do we battle these insecurities such that they don’t become a nearly permanent state of inferiority complex?
Steps Toward Eradicating This Monster:
Focus: Focus creates blindness to other things you’re not focusing on. If you focus on your weaknesses, you’ll be blind to your strengths and vice versa. That’s how it works! Everyone has something to be insecure about, but the confident ones choose not to focus on these things.
Mind your self-talk: According to Brian Tracy, a renowned public speaker and self-development author, three forms of suggestions determine how you feel about yourself:
External Suggestions: Situations happening around you, what someone says to you or how people treat you.
Self-Suggestions: What your mind suggests to you in the form of thoughts
Auto-Suggestions: What you feed your mind with, through your own words, such that it gets to the point where it takes on a power of its own.
Insecurities occur to virtually every human being. But this doesn’t mean that they are insurmountable. It all begins with identifying the symptoms, then the causes, and then attacking these things with the weapons of focus and self-talk.
Remember to always focus on your strengths and, as much as possible, feed yourself with the right words. Likewise, flood your mind with positive pictures of who you want to be and deserve to be. Then watch those insecurities fade into thin air before they ever get to develop into a full-blown inferiority complex. And this, my dear readers, is a solid weapon for combating the monster called “insecurity.”
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