INFERIORITY COMPLEX

INFERIORITY COMPLEX
An inferiority complex is a lack of Self-worth, a doubt and uncertainty about oneself, and feelings of not measuring up to standards.
It is often subconscious, and is thought to drive afflicted individuals to overcompensate, resulting either in spectacular achievement or extremely asocial behavior. In modern literature, the preferred terminology is "lack of covert self esteem For many, it is developed through a combination of genetic personality characteristics and personal experiences.
Also inferiority complex occurs when the feelings of inferiority are intensified in the individual through discouragement or failure. Those who are at risk for developing a complex include people who: show signs of low self-esteem or Self-worth, have low socioeconomic status, or have a history of depression symptoms.

SIGNS OF INFERIORITY COMPLEX

1. Hypocritical Attitude (H.P.): People who do not feel alright about themselves have problem feeling good about others. They would always look out for loopholes in people’s endeavours to try to convince themselves that they are not bad at all. These people cannot feel comfortable as being attractive, intelligent and competent, e.t.c., they will only have the feeling of being good provided they are only one around exuding the aforementioned qualities.

2. Tendency Towards Blaming (T.T.B.): Some people project their weaknesses onto others in order to lessen and relieving the pain of inferiority. For instance, if a person shows his weaknesses or inadequacy to others in order to prompt them to noticing it, so that his perceived incompetence can be justifiable by his short story of woe. This is just a step towards giving the responsibility of their failures to others.

3. Feeling Of Persecution (F.O.P.): when carried to the extreme, blaming others can extend to believing that others are actively seeking to ruin you. If a student fails an exam he sat, it may comfort him to believing that his teacher hates him and would do anything to hurt him. This will only allow him to avoid personal responsibility for his action.

4. Inappropriate Response To flattery (I.R.F.): This works in two forms. Some may refuse to listen to anything positive about themselves because it is inconsistent with their interior feelings. Others may be desperate to hear anything good about themselves and constantly fishing for compliments.

5. Sensitivity To Criticism (S.T.C.): Although people who feel inferior ‘know’ they have shortcomings, they do not like other people to point this out. They tend to perceive any form of criticism, regardless of how sensitively and constructively it is presented, as a
personal attack.

6. Tendency Towards Seclusion And Sensitivity (T.T.S.S.): Because people with an inferiority complex believe that they are not as interesting or intelligent as others, they believe other people have the same feeling about them. So they tend to avoid speaking up in public because they believe doing so will create an embarrassing demonstration of their awkwardness .

7. Negative Feeling About Competition (N.F.A.C.): People who have inferiority complex like to win games and contests as others, but they will always avoid such situation because deep down, they know they cannot make an head way.

WAY OUT OF INFERIORITY COMPLEX

1)  ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE IT
Some people with inferiority complex compensate their disorder with denial. When they do things out of the impulse of the complex, they compensate by denial of reality, distortion of reality, attack of reality, or retreat from reality. They do this through sour graping

2. KNOW  AND ACCEPT YOURSELF
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. ~ Romans 12:3-6
If you have inferiority complex, you often feel either inferior to another person or incompetent to perform a task.
Don't use other people's stick to measure your gifts, for God has given you unique gifts and He created you for a unique function.
Know yourself by discovering the gifts and talents you were given , by discovering your calling, and by fulfilling your purpose.
Don't underestimate the gifts that God has given you. Through His blessings and help, you are capable of doing great things more than you can ever imagine.
Sure you have weaknesses, disabilities and limitations, but hear what the Bible has got to say about those:
He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. ~ Isaiah 40:29-31
Therefore don't hate your disabilities and handicaps, or your weaknesses and limitations. Don't let them discourage you or fuel your inferiority.
God promises to give you power and strength when you are weak and powerless. [Tweet “As long as you walk in God's will and wait for Him, He will help you conquer all your disabilities. He will help you overcome your inferiority complex.

This also applies to your beauty and physical attributes. You may fall short from the standard beauty of the world but be comforted that “the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) A gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4) is more beautiful and precious than a perfect face, a flawless skin and a gorgeous body.

*  for me it took me long  time to know and accept myself. But by God's grace I am now comfortable, contented and happy with my gifts and looks.

2. DEVELOP YOUR STRONG POINTS.
If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. ( Romans 12: 7-9)
The Bible tells you to use your talents, improve and develop them. Whatever it is that you can do, do it with all your might (Ecc 9:10). Develop your strong points for the glory of the Lord.
Doing something that you are naturally good at will give you joy. Doing something that you are called to do will make you inspired.
Spend no time dwelling on what you can't do. Instead, spend all your energy on what you can do, enhancing the gifts and talents that God bestowed you.

3. FORGET THE PAST
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ~ Philippians 3:13.
It takes time and practice. Even Apostle Paul took time to master it.
But since inferiority complex is a by-product of past experiences, to remember the pain and failures of the past would only produce regret, fear and bitterness . Stop dwelling in the past.
Let it go. Set yourself free.
Focus on what's about to come, on all the blessings that God is yet to pour, and on all the endless possibilities.
Focus too on Heavenly things. While here on Earth you're bombarded with constant competition and comparison, in Heaven all saved saints will share the spotlight equally. There will be no inferiority complex in your Father's kingdom.

4. REALIZE YOUR POSITION
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. ~ Philippians 4:11-13
[Tweet It's easy to feel superior when you have plenty, and to feel inferior when you have less] Your human nature wants to be the greatest. It covets what it doesn't have . It boasts when it has plenty.
But Apostle Paul's advice is to be content .
If you have a simple contented spirit, it won't burn you if your college friend makes more money than you. It won't make you inferior if she lives in a big house and you're just renting a tiny place. It won't send you to depression if others seem to have it all.
Leaning in Christ for strength will cultivate a contented spirit in you and a mindset that is confident in God's blessings and guidance.

NB: DON'T ALLOW INFERIORITY COMPLEX TO STEAL YOUR VISION .