Hello, I'm Yi Ming, a heart exploration coach.
I'm Yi Ming, a heart exploration coach.
I get it. You've got a first-class degree from abroad, but you still feel weak and inferior.
I'm here for you!
I'd be happy to help you work through this. I hope it will be of some comfort and inspiration to you.
1. A new way of thinking about inferiority.
There's a saying that everyone is born with low self-esteem.
Austrian psychologist Adler believes that from an early age, people rely on their parents and the world around them because they feel powerless, incompetent, and ignorant, which leads to a sense of inferiority.
I've read a lot of interviews with successful people. From what I've seen, those who have achieved a lot and are well-liked often talk about feeling inferior when they talk about themselves.
Have you had a chance to think about this in a different way?
It seems like we spend our whole lives trying to find a balance between feeling inferior and feeling worthy.
As you mentioned, we "can't help but care about what others think."
We often judge our position in society based on what others think.
It's probably safe to say that we all compare ourselves to others.
But we can always look at it from a different angle.
Low self-esteem makes us feel uneasy.
We all want to be free of self-doubt.
Psychologically speaking, low self-esteem is basically a form of self-denial that mainly involves underestimating one's own abilities.
On the plus side, low self-esteem also helps us to identify our weaknesses and work on improving them.
If we think inferiority is bad, we'll do our best to get rid of it.
If you think there's a positive side to feeling inferior, try to see it as two sides of the same coin. Then we may become more confident.
The more we embrace our shortcomings, the more we'll gain confidence.
2. Comparisons just give us a frame of reference, not a win or loss.
As we all live in society, it's inevitable that we'll make comparisons.
Some people are already married with kids, while others have good jobs, etc.
In these comparisons, I realized that I'm actually pretty good at studying.
And you don't want to be judged that way by others.
We can use these comparisons to see the gap between where we are and where we want to be, rather than beating ourselves up easily.
Often, we're our own worst critics.
We tend to think that other people will think we lack practical ability, that our skin is not good, that we are not young anymore, and so on.
Are these mostly in your head?
There are some gaps, but we shouldn't feel bad about that.
When you come back to China after graduation, you have to adapt to the reality of work, which is different from what you learned in school. It's normal to have some setbacks.
It's normal to have some issues when you first start at a new job.
There might be some reasons why you're not socializing with others, like going abroad.
As they say, every flower blooms at a different time. Sometimes we shouldn't be too demanding.
It's a good idea to get to know the opposite sex.
We can try to think of other reasons for the situation, such as other people's success is not our own failure.
Take a moment to consider a few reasons for the current situation. Don't be too hard on yourself.
It's normal to have some weaknesses, but you can work on them and improve.
The more you accept yourself, the more you can achieve.
I'd highly recommend reading "Low Self-Esteem and Transcendence."
3. Look for ways to achieve unconditional happiness.
As the book Change Starts from the Heart says, there are three kinds of happiness: competitive happiness, conditional happiness, and unconditional happiness.
When we compare ourselves to others, we're actually experiencing what's called "competitive happiness." This is a lower state of mind.
We tend to feel satisfied when we compare ourselves to others.
If we feel like we're at a disadvantage in comparison, it's easier to undermine our self-confidence.
If we set our happiness to meet certain conditions, it's conditional. Things like getting married at a certain age or having a good job, for example.
We only feel happy when the conditions are right.
The good news is that we can actually be happy without conditions.
Be able to take everything that happens outside in your stride.
Accept life and yourself for what you are, without getting into conflict.
And make the necessary adjustments, don't deny yourself, and treat life as an experience.
The more we adopt this mindset, the higher our self-esteem will be and the more our abilities will improve.
Because you're your own biggest cheerleader.
Take your time to explore this for yourself.
Believe in yourself, believe that setbacks are just temporary, and make the most of them as opportunities for growth.
Best of luck!


Comments
Life has been really tough on me lately. Between the insomnia and feeling down, it's hard to find motivation. I know I need to take better care of myself and my skin is suffering because of the lack of sleep. Now that I'm between jobs, I'm trying to focus on what comes next. It's stressful dealing with the arbitration process while looking for new opportunities. Everyone around me seems to be moving forward with their lives, and I just want stability too. I wish I could find a path that feels right for me.
It's difficult when you're not sleeping well and feel out of sync with everyone else. I've realized how much I've neglected selfcare, especially since losing my job. The pressure of finding employment again weighs heavily on me. Seeing others achieve milestones like marriage or promotions makes me question where I stand in life. I want to fit into society's expectations, but sometimes it feels like an uphill battle. At least now I can dedicate time to searching for a job that suits me better.
The past few weeks have been a blur. My mind races at night, keeping me awake, and during the day, I'm preoccupied with job hunting and the ongoing dispute with my former employer. I envy friends who seem to glide through life effortlessly, landing great jobs and meeting partners. I put so much effort into my education abroad, and now I'm struggling to apply those skills here in China. I wonder if I'll ever find a job that appreciates my background and allows me to grow professionally.
I've been feeling lost and uncertain about my worth. It's disheartening to see friends excel in big companies while I'm still figuring things out. The gap between my overseas education and the practical demands of working in China feels insurmountable. I worked hard to complete my final project focusing on jobseeking strategies, hoping it would help secure a position. But the reality is, I might need more time to develop my skills and gain confidence in this competitive market.
Lately, I've been reflecting on my career choices and personal growth. The transition from student life to professional has been harder than expected. With insomnia affecting my mood and appearance, I've recognized the importance of early rest and selfcare. Facing unemployment and the challenges of the design industry, I'm reassessing my goals. While societal pressures push me toward traditional success markers, I'm learning to value my unique journey and the lessons gained along the way.