How to Deal With Insecurity 29 Signs & Ways to Feel Magnificent
Feeling insecure? Knowing how to deal with insecurity is twofold. First, you must acknowledge you are insecure and learn how to address it too!
Everyone feels insecure from time to time. Though, for some, insecurities start to get the better of them. Then, we have to consider how to deal with insecurity.
While we all have 'my bum looks so big in this' days, or days where we think 'what am I doing?' or just feel overwhelmed with everything going on in our lives or uncertain and unsure, there are instances where insecurities become too much. They begin to really interfere with what we want to do.
How to deal with insecurity: Acknowledgement
So, how do you know if you are insecure? And what can do you about it if you do?
Before you can do anything to help address how to deal with insecurity, you need to understand what your insecurities are. Insecurities can be about many things. Here are some of the most common signs:
#1 Comparing yourself to others. If you are always comparing yourself to others and always find you fall short, you'll perpetually feel insecure and bad about yourself. All people are different. You are good at some things that others are not. Try to have your own goals and find your own path. It doesn't matter what everyone else is doing.
#2 Feeling unworthy. Insecure people often feel worthless. They feel as though they don't deserve good things to happen to them.
#3 Feeling like your luck will change. Do you always feel slightly on edge? Like at any minute your luck will change? This signals your insecurities are getting the better of you.
#4 Feeling like an imposter. Imposter syndrome is a common trait of those suffering with insecurity. You get that job promotion, you land that great deal, you are asked to head up a project-whatever it is. You feel as though someone made a mistake and you are an imposter just waiting to be found out.
#5 Feeling hopeless. If you let your insecurities get the better of you, you often feel rather hopeless, like you are in a dark tunnel and can't see a way out.
#6 Feeling like you'll never be good enough. If you feel as though whatever you do, however much you achieve, you'll always let yourself and others down. Find a way to get to the root cause of the problem.
#7 Feeling overwhelmed by tasks or events. If you are asked to do something or gearing up for a big event, do you feel totally overwhelmed? Your insecurities could be standing in the way of your confidence.
#8 Not wanting to socialize. Would you rather just stay in at home alone than go out and be with other people? This can be a confidence issue, or rather lack of, to overcome.
#9 Hating the way you look. Do you loathe the way you look? Are you always self-critical about your appearance? Sometimes people find they have crippling insecurities about the way they look and this has a huge impact on their lives.
#10 Getting upset over little things. If you find yourself bursting into tears or frustrated over little things, this could be your insecurities rearing their ugly head.
#11 Not being able to talk to anyone about it. Do you feel as though you can't express yourself properly? If you shut yourself away, things only get worse.
#12 Talking too much. Do you find all you talk about is how insecure you are, how fat you feel, how nervous you are, how pathetic you are? This is incredibly self-destructive and needs to stop.
#13 Losing friends. Are you losing friends over your insecurities? If so, you need to learn to deal with insecurity.
#14 Recognizing most of your thoughts are focused on this one thing. Are you obsessed with your insecurities? Do you find it hard to think about or focus on anything else?
#15 Being unable to snap yourself out of it. Sometimes even though you know what your insecurities are, and know they are irrational or foolish, you still can't find a way to snap yourself out of it. This can be very frustrating and finding coping mechanisms to deal with this really helps.
#16 Feeling frightened. Do your insecurities make you scared to do certain things? Do you feel anxious all the time because of them? Feeling frightened is horrible, and you need to discover a way to stop this.
If any of the above sound like you, it is more than likely that you need to learn how to deal with insecurity. The good news is now that you acknowledged the problem, there are lots of ways to try and fix it.
How to deal with insecurity: Face them
#17 Forgive the past. The mistakes you've made before, or negative things that have happened to you need to be forgiven. Forgive others and yourself. You can't change the past, but you can learn from it and move on. Self-forgiveness can be incredibly powerful when it comes to self-healing.
#18 Practice self-love. Insecure people find it very difficult to love themselves, and this takes time and practice. Start by focusing on the things you do like about yourself, your successes and achievements.
Look in the mirror and compliment yourself. Try to keep any negative thoughts at bay. It takes focus and concentration, but if you keep practicing you find it easier. Slowly but surely, you start to believe it too.
#19 Give yourself pep talks. Giving yourself a firm talking to often helps. So many insecurities are totally unfounded, so start to be a bit tougher on yourself. If you feel those negative thoughts coming, give yourself a good, inspiring pep talk. Then distract yourself, or just get on with it!
#20 Take deep breaths. When feeling overwhelmed with insecurities, we often feel quite panicked. Take deep breaths, sit down, and just take a moment to calm yourself down.
#21 Practice meditation. When insecurities take over our thoughts, they take over our lives. Practicing meditation helps clear and declutter your mind and gives you some respite from it all.
#22 Trust in the moment. Try to just focus on the things that happen right now and stop worrying about what might happen. If good things are going on, enjoy them. Don't fret about whether you deserve them or worry they'll be snatched away.
#23 Don't compare yourself. Stop comparing yourself to other people. Everyone is different. You might feel like you aren't as successful/pretty/rich/happy as other people, but comparing yourself to them only makes you feel bad. Instead focus on what you want. Work out how you can get there.
#24 Stop thinking it's all about you. Being insecure can be a little selfish. If you get too caught up in your own insecurities, you start to become rather self-obsessed. Remember there are other people out there, don't neglect them, and know not everything that happens is all about you!
#25 Take chances and set challenges. Be brave, set yourself goals and focus on them. The more you achieve and the more you push yourself, the more you start to believe in yourself.
#26 Find people to support you. Surround yourself with people who support you. Not people who pander to your insecurities, but those who help you when things are difficult, provide you with tough love when you need it and support you while you try to get better.
#27 Like yourself. If you want to get over your insecurities you need to like yourself. Understand you are a person with flaws just like anyone else. That's okay, it doesn't mean you aren't awesome.
#28 Accept you will feel insecure sometimes. It's very hard to get rid of your insecurities altogether. They just don't have to take over your life!
#29 Believe you will get better. It all starts by believing there is light at the end of that tunnel, so make sure you believe you will get better and know it takes time and effort. It will be so worth it in the end.
Insecurity can be debilitating, but by recognizing and acknowledging it and finding ways of coping and strategies in dealing with it, you free yourself from the pain and the struggles insecurities bring.
Why not follow the tips above and see how to deal with insecurity and be a happier, healthier person? It could change your life and your outlook towards life, all at once.