Lately, I can't help but overthink, feeling empty and lacking cultural depth, am I feeling inferior?

Good morning, young lady.

It is commendable that you have the courage to confront your own challenges. Not everyone is capable of expressing their innermost thoughts and feelings to others, particularly on a public platform like Yixinli. Identifying and acknowledging your difficulties is an important first step towards change. I applaud you for taking this step.

I have read your concerns and apprehensions in their entirety. Indeed, I am willing to divulge a closely-guarded secret: approximately 90% of individuals in this society will experience a range of challenges, including myself. Consequently, it can be argued that everyone is afflicted by some form of ailment, and that no one should derisively dismiss another's struggles. Those of us who are similarly afflicted can assist and collaborate with one another to identify a solution, if not a cure.

In the following section, we will examine the issues that you perceive to be problematic.

1. I feel that my knowledge is insufficient and that I am unable to present my own ideas in the same way as others. Instead of receiving attention, recognition and appreciation from colleagues or friends, I am met with ridicule.

2. I feel as though I am unable to find understanding from others, that I lack a clear sense of purpose, that I am merely a passive participant in the course of my own life, that I have low self-esteem, that I experience sadness, and that I am unsure if I am unwell.

Let us therefore proceed in a methodical manner, addressing each issue individually.

1. If one feels that one lacks knowledge, there is only one way to address this issue: one must learn. One should learn whatever one deems beneficial, whether in one's professional life or in one's personal life. No one can do this for one, and no one can impart this knowledge to one either. Only one can do it, and it will ultimately change one and make one shine. However, there is one thing to remember: knowledge is not something one learns to show off for others to see. Rather, it is something that can actually make one strong inside. Since one has come to Yi Xin Li, one should learn some knowledge of psychology here. While saving oneself, one can also relieve others and grow together.

If one is fearful of verbalizing one's thoughts and concerns and is concerned that they will be met with ridicule, it is possible to simply listen attentively to others who may require courage and strength even more than oneself. After providing feedback and suggestions, it may be possible to eliminate the fear that one experiences. When one has reached a sufficient level of emotional fortitude, it may be possible to resume the role of the speaker. It is believed that this can be achieved in the near future.

2. I frequently experience feelings of helplessness and isolation when I am unable to find individuals who can comprehend my perspective, and I feel as though I am merely a passive participant in the course of my own life. The fundamental truth is that we are all born into a state of solitude, and it is our interpretation of this experience that truly matters. I recall reading in a literary work that individuals who are introverted do not shy away from social interaction; rather, they tend to prioritize the enjoyment of solitude.

Indeed, solitude affords the opportunity for profound reflection on certain matters, and thus it is advisable to embrace this state of being with tranquility.

It is imperative that we gain an understanding of ourselves, rather than relying on external validation. Can we acknowledge our own efforts when we are fatigued? Do we have the capacity to say to ourselves, "Dear self, you have worked hard!"? It is crucial that we prioritize self-understanding before seeking external comprehension. It is not a simple task to allow others to comprehend us. Individuals of all genders and backgrounds face similar challenges, underscoring the importance of self-understanding as a fundamental step.

It bears noting that the act of typing out every word does not imply a superior status. It is possible that I am not as adept as you, but I have identified my own shortcomings and am committed to making changes. I am moving towards a more coherent state of being, one step at a time. I encourage you to join me in this endeavour.

In conclusion, it can be stated that

The girl may be likened to a pearl, and it is possible that she will one day radiate a brilliance that rivals that of a thousand flowers.

Hello, I hope my answer can be of some help to you.

After reading your description, I don't think you're suffering from depression. It seems like you lack self-confidence and inner strength, so you pay particular attention to what other people say and you can easily see the good points in other people. You like to compare yourself with others and hope to gain recognition and appreciation from others, right?

How come I understand you so well?

I also went through a period where I had particularly strong feelings like this. I felt very inferior, cared a lot about the affirmation and appreciation of others, and liked to compare myself with others. I felt very uncomfortable when I saw others doing better than me, which you might call envy or even jealousy. At that time, no one could understand me, and many people would think, "No way, you can also be inferior, you are already very happy."

But I felt pretty inferior because I didn't have much inner strength or a sense of security. You can't get that kind of confidence from external conditions.

So I started to explore and change. Gradually, I regained my confidence through a few key adjustments. As I became more and more confident, I found my inner being became more harmonious and stable. I also realised I no longer cared so much about other people's opinions, nor did I want to compare myself to others. Of course, I also no longer craved other people's praise, because I could give myself enough recognition and affirmation.

How did I make this change?

First of all, I've gained a comprehensive and objective understanding of myself.

In the past, I was pretty hard on myself. I couldn't handle seeing my own flaws, so I'd either ignore them or try to bury them. This made me see myself in a pretty distorted way.

Later on, I learned that it's helpful to take an observational approach to yourself. This means looking at yourself from a third-party perspective. You can also ask a close friend or relative to give you an assessment of you in their eyes. This can help you get to know yourself more objectively.

We can play a self-evaluation game to see if you have a comprehensive and appropriate understanding of yourself. Please fill in the blanks with words that best describe you. You can write about your strengths and weaknesses, and there should be at least three sentences.

Who are you? You are a person of ________. Then, ask a colleague or friend to evaluate you in the same sentence: Who is he?

What kind of person is he?

You'll likely find that your own view of yourself differs from how others see you. Playing around with these types of exercises can help you gain deeper insights and knowledge about yourself.

Then we need to learn to accept this objective, comprehensive, and true self.

If you only focus on your strengths and ignore your weaknesses, you might come across as arrogant. Likewise, if you dwell on your shortcomings and ignore your strengths, you might feel inferior.

And we all have the potential for both good and bad. We just need to recognize that.

As the book "Accepting Yourself as You Are" says,

Our inner being is a unity of contradictions: good and evil, good and bad, light and dark, strong and weak, honest and deceitful.

If you feel too vulnerable, you need to find ways to become stronger. If you are haunted by fear, you must search within for courage. If you are always being bullied, you need to find the reason why this is happening.

It's important to be open-minded and accept that we have both strengths and weaknesses, as well as positive and negative aspects. Only those who can accept the negative can embrace the positive.

So, when we see our own strengths and weaknesses, we've got to accept them all. The only way to change ourselves is to learn to accept ourselves. Self-acceptance is the foundation of our self-confidence.

Then, we need to leverage our strengths and recognize our value.

It's also a good idea to identify your strengths and think about what you're good at and what you enjoy doing.

If you're having trouble identifying your strengths, try recording them daily. This means writing down one of your strengths each day, affirming your value, and noting your strengths. This will help you recognize your advantages. You'll find that playing to your strengths gives you more confidence than correcting your weaknesses.

We also need to give ourselves positive mental suggestions on a regular basis.

If we don't believe in ourselves, we're less likely to succeed in the things we want to do. But if we believe in ourselves, we're more likely to succeed. Many experiments in psychology have proved that positive mental suggestions can give us positive energy, promote our progress and development, and really lead to good results.

You can often do this positive self-suggestion exercise, which is to affirm and verbalize yourself. For example, you can say to yourself in the mirror every day: "I believe in myself, I like myself, I am responsible, I am capable..."

You can do this mirror exercise as many times a day as you like. It's okay if you cry and feel very moved at first. Just keep practising and you'll soon feel the support and strength you give yourself.

At the end of the day, we need to set goals and achieve them through our own efforts. This helps us gain a real sense of achievement and self-confidence.

That's what I did. I saw that my strengths were studying and exams, so I set myself some reasonable goals in terms of studying. Every year, I would take some courses that were within my capabilities and take some exams for the certificates I needed. I enjoyed the process of studying because I found it fun.

So, when you set a goal for yourself, you need to think about two things: first, that you're happy while you're working towards it; and second, that you can achieve it through your own efforts, not through other people's help.

This way, you'll be happy to do these things and gradually accomplish what you want to achieve. With each success, breakthrough, and growth, you'll become more and more confident.

In a nutshell, I believe that as long as you can build up your inner self-confidence and sense of security, you won't care so much about other people's comments and opinions. You'll be able to express your own views in social situations. Of course, you'll also stop envying and being jealous of other people because you're working hard to become your own self. You're becoming better and better through your own actions. Moreover, you already know yourself very well. You know what you want, and you know where you're heading. You'll become determined, confident, and simple.

If this is tough for you, start by getting to know yourself better. Figure out what you need and want, and accept yourself for who you are. Identify your strengths and focus on positive self-talk. Most importantly, take action and work towards becoming the person you want to be. Set small goals and take steps towards achieving them.

I hope this is helpful for you. Best wishes,

Hello. Let's start by discussing depression. This is a complex topic, and everyone experiences periods of low mood from time to time. The duration of these periods, and their impact on life, work and other aspects, are important factors to consider. From my perspective, if the duration is long, there may be some indications of depression.

You mentioned at the beginning that you've been thinking a lot lately. It seems like it's only been a short time. How old are you? Is there something on your mind that's causing you to think a lot?

It is important to note that while cultural connotations are a factor, whether or not they are perceived as such is another matter entirely. This phenomenon can be attributed to a range of underlying factors, including feelings of inferiority, a desire for recognition, and a lack of security.

It's as if some people feel they lack a certain height, while others feel their voices are not particularly pleasant to listen to. These are just external manifestations, and it's just that we happen to be in this situation. Even if we are very educated, we may still find that we are inferior to others in other aspects. It's certainly beneficial to learn something and supplement some cultural knowledge, but it may not fully address these issues.

When discussing these issues, it is important to consider the role of the original family in shaping your choices. It may be helpful to reflect on the reasons behind your decisions and explore them gradually. Additionally, your sense of existence and meaning often stems from the recognition and support of others. When you feel frustrated in this area, it can lead to a sense of directionlessness as you seek recognition. However, your sense of purpose is often influenced by external factors, which can make you feel powerless.

I believe that reading more could be beneficial for you. While books may not immediately solve your problems or make you happier, they can provide insights and understanding. It's important to explore your own thoughts, understand how society works, grasp the dynamics of family and relationships, and re-establish your personal values. This process often requires time and patience.

Secondly, it might be helpful to talk to more people, even online. The idea is that you don't exhaust yourself, like a balloon that has been blown up by negative emotions and then released. This could be a way of developing in a sustainable manner.

If it is possible for you to do so, you might consider seeking psychological counseling outside. If this situation persists for a long time or you encounter more individuals, there will always be kind people who can assist you in expanding your perspective or provide other forms of distraction. By taking a step back and trusting in yourself, you may find that you can find the answers you seek on your own.

I hope you will consider these suggestions.

I hope things work out for you in the end.