Good morning, dear girl.
My name is Kelly Shui, and I coach people on exploring their hearts.
On this late autumn morning, as I read about your confusion, I feel compelled to talk to you about what makes us think these things. Perhaps we could explore this together?
I wonder if I might have missed out on some of the experiences that could have helped me to feel more confident in my ability to be loved.
Some time ago, I was listening to a lecture about the feeling of unworthiness. I reflected on my childhood and how I was sometimes criticized, belittled, and disliked by my parents. I thought of a quote by Carl Jung: "Your subconscious mind controls you, and you call it fate."
I believe that if I hadn't studied psychology and become a counselor, I probably would never have realized that these things would also affect me.
I lived at home until primary school, when my parents were raising three children, which was a challenging experience. My mother had a short temper and was easily angered. I was sensitive from a young age and, because I had an older sister, I had to learn to navigate the responsibilities of housework.
My mother's comments were often quite harsh, and I was very self-conscious and stubborn.
During my time in junior high school, I also lived in a boarding school. I was always a little hesitant to socialize with boys, as my mother had a habit of saying that I was lazy and ugly. As I grew up, I found that my inferiority complex was always there, influencing my behavior.
Later, when I was in high school, I lived far away from home, and I went home less and less often. When I was at school, I often heard my classmates praise me for being pretty, and I would sometimes feel that the other person was being sarcastic, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
Later, when I gradually started to hear more and more people praise me, I still had some reservations about myself.
Our parents' personalities often influence how we perceive the beginnings of intimacy. I recall my parents having distinct personalities: my father loved to read, while my mother was somewhat quick-tempered. As a result, I initially struggled to cultivate close relationships with others.
I have always enjoyed reading, and I have been interested in literature since elementary school. I find the love stories in books particularly appealing. My first love was also my current husband, and I started dating in my twenties.
I always felt that I didn't deserve to be loved. I wondered why someone would like me. I felt that there were many girls who were prettier, better, and had better personalities than me.
Initially, I had similar concerns. My husband is a graduate of a well-known university in China and is quite attractive, but when he first contacted me, I was unsure if he was truly interested. Despite my initial impression of him, he persisted in pursuing me and continued writing for quite some time before I agreed to consider dating him.
Despite the fact that his ex-girlfriend was a graduate student with a higher education level than me, and there were many pretty female colleagues in the company who liked him, my husband was ultimately drawn to me.
We are blessed to have a lovely daughter and have been married for more than 20 years. While our marriage has not been without challenges, we have also faced setbacks, including my own internal struggles with feelings of inadequacy.
I wonder how the sense of inadequacy is formed.
If a child is not recognized and belittled as a child, agrees with their parents, or has never received approval from their parents, and if a person has not received these positive affirmations in their upbringing,
I believe that Guo Jing-jing also faced some challenging questions from the outside world. For example, she was asked, "Does Cinderella deserve the prince?"
Her response was measured and collected: "There are many wealthy families, but only one world champion."
This sense of "I deserve it" has enabled her to enjoy the benefits of a happy marriage that many women admire.
Their stories continue to be passed down to this day.
It could be said that confidence is also a kind of beauty.
How might we lead a more confident life?
It would be beneficial to first become aware of any self-defeating patterns you may have.
If you catch yourself thinking this way, kindly remind yourself that you've fallen into this habit again.
You might consider writing it in your diary and then gently reminding yourself that you don't need to fall into this trap.
Then, if you find yourself falling into the trap of unworthiness, kindly remind yourself that this is not the path to take.
It might be helpful to try to deviate from your instinctive reaction a few more times, as this could help you gradually rebuild your model.
It might be helpful to ask a close friend to talk about your strengths.
With an increasing understanding of myself, I can joke with my boyfriend, "What is it about me that you like? I'd love to know."
I believe that the way my boyfriend sees me is probably an accurate reflection of who I really am.
And with my boyfriend, we have the opportunity to reflect on each other's perspectives, recognize our individual strengths and weaknesses, learn to accept, and gain insights from the past to understand the potential influence of past experiences on our present selves.
I have come to accept that the past is the past, and that the present is what matters.
Thirdly, it would be beneficial to identify your own personal aspirations.
We are all ordinary people, but we all have our own dreams. Despite the challenges I faced in my original family, I found ways to nurture my creativity after getting married. I took the opportunity to learn new skills, such as cooking and designing soft furnishings, to bring some of my ideas to life.
Subsequently, when we were in a relationship, I would often prepare meals and extend invitations to my husband's classmates to gather at our residence.
One can also attract many friends and interesting people through a love of life.
Fourth, it may be helpful to praise yourself and others more.
In our culture, it tends to be more subtle, and many people are understandably reluctant to express their thoughts.
I always try to find something positive to say about others and tell them that I'm interested in learning from them.
We often offer praise to others and try to see the good in them. Similarly, we frequently receive praise from others.
Compliments can be a wonderful way to show appreciation and build strong relationships.
It might be helpful to consider what you might see as their good points, in the case of your boyfriend, colleagues, classmates, best friends, and family.
Fifth, it would be beneficial to embrace one's inner values.
It can be said that this is the magic key to freedom and love. It is often thought that everyone is equal, that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and that no one is perfect.
Perhaps it could be said that just as a boyfriend likes you.
Because you are the only one in the world, love is only about liking and disliking. As the saying goes, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
While appearance is certainly a factor in many aspects of life, it is not the only thing that matters. A good-looking body is not uncommon, but an interesting soul is not always easy to find. Perhaps we could consider becoming "philanthropists" and exploring the unknown, challenging ourselves, and doing things that we can do and that make us happy.
With time, a sense of worth is gradually enhanced. When we have things we like, we find reasons to persevere and work hard for them. This can lead to happiness being visible to those around you.
If I might make one more suggestion, learning is always a good option. There is no limit to what we can learn. If we persevere in reading, we will eventually develop an independent mindset.
I believe that reading is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves.
If I may, I would like to share a quote with you. It is from the writer Huang Tongtong and appears in her book, I Will Rebuild My Life With My Own Hands.
"I tend to feel uneasy when faced with anything good, and interestingly, the result of good things with me is often that they break or disappear. Later, my psychiatrist offered an intriguing analysis, suggesting that this may be because in our subconscious minds, we may have a sense that we don't deserve good things..."
If you were to form the self-concept of "I'm not good," this belief would likely go directly to the subconscious.
This can result in an automatic response pattern whereby we tend to avoid the good stuff and take the bad stuff.
So, dear girl, I encourage you to believe in yourself and your inherent goodness.
You are deserving of love.
We will grow up together.
I would like to extend my best wishes to you.
Comments
I can understand how you're feeling. It's important to remember that love is not just about looks or talents, but about the connection and understanding between two people. Try to focus on the qualities you bring to the relationship and how they value those.
Everyone has their own unique charm and worth. The fact that this person chose you means they see something special in you that others might not. Love isn't a competition; it's about finding someone who appreciates you for who you are.
It sounds like you've been through a lot, and that can affect how you see yourself. But it's crucial to work on building your selfesteem. You deserve love too, and it's okay to let yourself be loved. Maybe talking to a therapist could help you explore these feelings more deeply.
You mentioned feeling undeserving of love, which can stem from past experiences. Remember, your background doesn't define your future. The person who loves you sees beyond what you think are flaws. They see your heart and the strength you've shown. Trust in their feelings for you.
I know it's hard to believe in yourself when you haven't had much support growing up, but now you have someone who cares about you. Let their love help you grow and heal. Take it as an opportunity to learn to trust and accept affection.