Facing Inadequacy

It's inevitable, at some point you will feel inadequate.

Did you do enough? Did you do the right thing? Did you do wrong, again? Did you say something stupid?

These are all questions that at some point we all think about. Understanding what inadequacy is and where it comes from is important, especially if you're someone who feels worthless much of the time.

Inadequacy is a feeling that comes from comparisons. Maybe you work with a co-worker who always gets their work done faster than you. Or you have a family member who seems to get more praise because of the work they accomplish. These situations can drive us, if we're not careful, to compare ourselves to these individuals, tear ourselves down and feel inadequate.

The next step in dealing with inadequate feelings is to know your limits and strengths. Maybe you can't do as much as the next person or maybe you're doing too much and you need to slow down. Whichever the case may be, you're not less of a person for only being able to do so much.

Finally, are you someone that is very self-critical, has a low opinion of yourself, constantly seeking approval from others? Ask yourself, "What is my identity rooted in?"