3 Effective Ways to Feel You are Good Enough
My struggle with the anxiety of not being good enough and How I overcame it
I am a perfectionist — an overachiever who in school always had a 3.97 GPA and has two master’s degrees. As a child and as an adult, I have had the constant need to excel. I assumed that if I excelled in everything, then maybe, just maybe, I would not have this lingering haunting thought of not being good enough.
But as you know, that never happened.
My life has always been in a constant battle with my longest companion — The anxiety of not being good enough.
Let me introduce you to this companion.
I have had this anxiety since childhood. I cannot recall how this ‘constant companion’ crept into my life. It has always been there telling me I am not good enough, and I believed it. The anxiety crippled me on the inside. It paralyzed me with fear so much so that I questioned my existence.
The anxiety stopped me from doing a lot of things — learning a new skill, public speaking, taking exams, participating in a contest, you name it. Might I add, this anxiety has even stopped me from writing and publishing on a public platform.
But then, a few months ago, something changed. I managed to defeat this anxiety.
So, what exactly did I do?
1. Do not engage with ‘You are not good enough’ thoughts
I decided to stop engaging with any thoughts that might dim my light. Of course, if you are someone with this anxiety, you’ll know the number of thoughts that float in your mind at any given moment. But, just because your mind is flooded with discouraging thoughts does not mean you need to engage with them.
2. Fail, learn, repeat
Give yourself permission to fail. Life is about learning. A huge part of learning is also failing. Nobody is a born expert. So, practice every day, fail, and learn from it. And remember that it is okay to fail.
3. Share your thoughts
Find a trusted friend or a family member to share your thoughts. I shared my thoughts with a professor. When she assured me that what I was feeling was quite normal, surprisingly, I felt better. The professor also gave me some advice — if you want to spend time engaging with your thoughts, why not focus on those thoughts that encourage you? This advice has stuck with me till date.
‘You are not good enough anxiety’ can be crippling. But, do not give in to those negative thoughts and feelings.
Please do not let it dim your light.
You are capable of making an impact!❤
P.S. If you want to dig deep into your anxiety, I suggest contacting a professional who can help you with it.
