BATTLING INSECURITIES

The world is filled with many uncertainties. Our quest to answer some of the basic questions in life is enough to make anyone feel somewhat insecure about their lives. For example, searching for truth; who we truly are and what our true calling is in life can cause one to feel insecure. Finding answers to these questions may not necessarily take away the feeling of insecurity. Battling insecurities is a lifelong emotion that, albeit unpleasant, is a test of strength and character and can often lead to the pursuit of self discovery. How would one ever know how much potential he has if he does not challenge the negative voices in his head, or the observers outside? Or how can one confidently rationalize and explain success if he has never felt like giving up before?

But insecurities, when allowed to brew for long, can turn into all shades of grey. Insecurities, if not tackled, could make anyone lose feelings of happiness in life, leading to an elongated series of depression. Hence, there is a need to deal with this negative emotion before it manifests fully. Below are things you could do to help battle your insecurities.

1) You’re not alone: Recognize and acknowledge that you’re not alone. The way you sometimes feel about yourself or life generally is not peculiar to you alone. There are ups and downs in life, and we are all humans with vulnerabilities and insecurities alike. Cut yourself some slack and don’t be too hard on yourself.

2) All things that glitter isn’t gold: Lose the habit of making consistent comparisons. Social media has a way of portraying falsified lifestyles and demeanors and appearances. In the words of Jay Z, “Believe nothing you see and half of what you hear.” Take control of your life. What you don’t like, change it, and what you can’t change, learn to embrace it. Journaling is a great practice that will help you get into the habit of loving all that is you. We often are so busy focusing on what others’ have or how others’ look that we fail to see the beauty within ourselves. We fail to discover our hidden talents. The truth is we all have a uniqueness about us that makes us different, makes us special. Rearrange your focus on you so that you can start loving you a little bit more every day. 

3) Make a mental pre-judgement: What is the worst-case scenario? What would or could possibly go wrong if you stop giving into your fears of failure, or insecurities? What would happen if you choose to act now? Would you be able to live with the consequences? Would you forgive yourself if you took this decision, or that alternative? Making a mental pre-judgement of possible outcomes would help you to alleviate whatever fears that you cannot fully comprehend. Until you open up to yourself about the consequences of your choices, your insecurities will continue to have a stronghold on you.

4) Be inquisitive: Sometimes, what we call insecurity is simply the product of our imaginations, or ignorance. If we probe more, we may realize that things are not as it seems. Maybe the fear of loving or being forgotten, for instance, is only a mirage because we are too far away from the people we love or care about. Asking the right questions at the right time about a thought or situation may be all we need to allay our fears and end our insecurities.

5) Trust the process: It is mostly when we are going through a reinvention or recreation in our lives that we have some insecurities about who we are becoming. But the universe will never lead us astray. Know that you are heavily guided and protected on your personal journey to self growth and evolution. There will be people who fear change and attempt to make you feel guilty about your decisions to choose yourself and grow and expand but do it anyway. Trusting the process is an affirmation that you are not afraid about the outcome because you know that despite obstacles and delays you will receive the best possible outcome as long as you live authentically and follow your soul's truth. If you’re trusting the process, you leave no space for negative thoughts.

You are the only one that can limit your greatness!