"I feel worthless. I can't seem to do anything right."
Have you ever felt that way? Have these thoughts ever crossed your mind? If you've been feeling worthless and doubting your abilities, you are not alone. Self-esteem issues can arise in many different points in our lives and most of the people have them. What matters is how we can motivate ourselves and get back up afterward.
Personally, when my self-confidence starts waning, I start to look for the roots of the problem. Exploring the reason why we feel worthless can be the first step towards healing. Read on to find out why you might feel worthless and how you can deal with it.
Possible Reasons Why You Feel Worthless
The moment I start to doubt my abilities, the first thing I do is ask myself, "why do I feel worthless?" in the first place. It's always best to nip the problem from its roots, so this is a good place to start. So, let's start by exploring all the possible reasons why you feel terrible.
1. You compare yourself to others
Do you find yourself scrolling through social media and comparing yourself to other people? Perhaps wishing you lived another life, made more money, had a better love life, or worked for a different company?
I believe this is a bad habit that almost everyone, including me, has. It's not easy to break a habit, but you need to understand that doing this is extremely toxic to your mind. You need to stop and start being grateful for everything you have right now.
2. You made a mistake
Did you make a mistake with that important monthly report? Did you forget to submit an important assignment? Did you accidentally start an argument with a loved one? No matter what it is, you must realize that mistakes are a normal thing.
Nobody is perfect. Accept that you've made some mistakes and move on. Don't dwell on it. Most importantly, don't let that mistake haunt you and bring negativity to your soul.
3. Someone puts you down
Harsh criticisms are a painful yet unavoidable part of life. Trust me, I've had lots of people tell me that I'm a good-for-nothing person. Those unprovoked negativities can often bring us down and make us feel worthless.
But you should never let anybody be the boss of your mind. Stop giving them power over your mind and soul. Let them talk all they can. Don't cling to their hurtful words and message. Instead, you should move on and lead a better, more fulfilling life.
4. You're experiencing a big change in your life
Are you going through a breakup or a divorce? Did you recently lose your job? Are you coping with the loss of a loved one? Big changes in our life can alter our sense of self, leaving us feeling worthless and miserable.
Dealing with those changes and the trauma they possibly brought may cause you to blame yourself. However, you must realize that our lives are constantly changing. You may not be able to control everything that's going on in your life, but at the very least, you can control the way you process it.
Coping With Feelings of Worthlessness
So, have you found out why you've been feeling worthless? Good, that's the first step towards healing your mind and soul. Everyone is different, but here are some of my top tips on how to cope with feelings of worthlessness.
1. Practice gratitude
Practicing gratitude daily can improve our mental well-being. It grounds us to the present and makes us feel positive about what we currently have. The next time you feel negative or unworthy, try to look at your surroundings and count your blessings. Starting from today, keep a journal and list at least five things you're grateful for each day, no matter how small they are. Eventually, you'll see that your life is full of wonderful things.
2. Make a list of your accomplishments
When we feel worthless, it's easy to disregard our accomplishments and just focus on our mistakes. That will only make us feel even more worthless. To avoid that, try recording your daily accomplishments, no matter how trivial they can seem to be. They can be something huge, such as completing an important presentation or getting a promotion. But they can also be as simple as finishing your laundry or completing a 30-minute workout. Remember, every accomplishment counts.
3. Find a new hobby
Figure out new sides of yourself by exploring new activities and hobbies. Whether it's reading books, cooking, gardening, exercising, or painting, a new hobby can truly light up the passion you need to feel alive and happy. You can try attending cheap community college classes or even start by exploring the internet.
4. Talk positively to yourself
When I feel negative, I always try to neutralize the situation by talking positively to myself. Yes, when we're feeling worthless, it can be hard to speak kindly to ourselves, but this trick can help soothe your mind. I suggest finding positive quotes to read throughout the day. Alternatively, you can also recite simple positive mantras, such as "you did well" or "everything is going to be okay".
5. Seek professional help
If the feeling of worthlessness is too heavy on your head, then maybe you should consider seeking professional help. Finding a good therapist can help you let out all the pent up emotions inside. Better yet, professional therapists can give you some fantastic tips on how to tackle your self-esteem issues.
Closing Message
In this fast-paced, high-pressure world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by our daily tasks and interactions. Sometimes the pressure gets too heavy and leaves us feeling worthless. When that happens, remember that you're not alone. This may not be much, but I hope this article can help you take the first step towards recovery.