Hello, young friend. I hope you're well.
First, I'm going to give you a little praise, a hug, and a big hug!
You had the courage to write all of this down and let others see it, and they helped you find answers. I can feel your deep fear, anxiety, and longing to return to normal.
It's time to face the truth and criticize yourself. When you do, the darkness will dissipate. Look to the light!
Let's analyze why you're in this situation based on the ABC theory before we discuss how to solve the problem.
I'm unable to help because I compare myself with "her."
I am jealous, suspicious, and tired of my friends, and I am not ashamed of that.
You are unable to extricate yourself from anxiety, fear, low self-esteem, self-doubt, and emotional outbursts.
Let's start by understanding the ABC theory.
The ABC theory was created by American psychologist Ellis, who was convinced that
A (activating event): the event that triggers it.
B (belief): The belief that an individual forms about A as a result of their perception and evaluation of A.
C (consequence): the emotional and behavioral consequences
The above ABC relationship is as follows:
The activating event A is only indirectly responsible for the emotional and behavioral consequences C.
The belief that an individual forms in response to the perception and evaluation of A is the direct cause of the emotional and behavioral consequences that it produces.
An individual's mistaken or irrational beliefs about the triggering event (A) will inevitably lead to negative emotional and behavioral consequences (C).
This is why different people's attitudes can lead to very different results for the same thing. The same A, due to the adoption of different Bs, will ultimately produce very different Cs.
Your friend got a job and got good grades first.
Your friend got a job and got good grades before you.
B/Belief: We were the same, but now she is better than me, and I will surpass her.
C/Result: Negative emotions such as jealousy, suspicion that they are being looked down upon, fear, anxiety, inferiority complex, etc. They cannot bear to see others doing better than them, and they are convinced that there is something wrong with them. This affects their studies, work, and earning money.
The outcome C must be changed to target the wrong belief/irrational belief B.
The ABC theory, when applied to specific situations in daily life, reveals that people's unreasonable beliefs often have three defining characteristics.
Absolute demands refer to the idea that people often take their own wishes as the starting point and believe that something must or must not happen.
This kind of absolute demand is unreasonable because every objective thing has its own development law, which cannot be changed according to one's will.
Let me be clear: it is impossible to succeed in everything. The performance and development of people and things around us do not change according to our wishes.
Therefore, when the development of certain things goes against his absolute demands, he will find it difficult to accept and adapt, and will fall into emotional distress.
My friend has found a job and achieved good grades. I haven't, so she is better than me and I can't catch up!
However, just as flowers and trees in nature all have different growth cycles and periods of flowering and fruiting, oranges are not comparable to apples. We don't compare our father to Wang Sicong, but we do compare ourselves to those around us, thinking that we are similar and can be compared.
However, everyone is an individual with their own unique characteristics. Being behind now does not mean being behind forever, and being behind in this area does not mean being behind in everything. We should compare ourselves with our past selves, not with other people's present selves! Discover your strengths and advantages, explore your natural talents and potential, maximize your abilities by playing to your strengths and avoiding your weaknesses, find a suitable platform and field, and strive to find a good job and achieve good results as soon as possible, so that you can win what you want.
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2. Overgeneralization: This is an irrational way of thinking that generalizes from a few examples to the whole. For example, some people will think that they are "useless and worthless" after suffering some failures.
This kind of self-denial inevitably leads to negative emotions such as low self-esteem and self-blame. When the evaluation is directed at others, it inevitably leads to blind accusations, generating negative emotions such as resentment and hostility.
It is important to understand that nobody is perfect and nobody is without fault. We all have the potential to make mistakes.
You say, "I don't believe everyone thinks this way about their friends. I'm not like that. I don't deserve friends who think this way."
It is indisputable that there are individuals who take pride in their academic achievements and look down on their former friends. There are also those who are envious and wish for others to suffer when they themselves are having a bad time. History is replete with examples of people who have displayed these traits. Even the most ordinary individuals possess a dark side at times. The key is to learn to forgive, not only others but also oneself. By doing so, you can improve and perfect yourself to become a better person and a better friend.
3. Extremely bad: This belief is wrong. If a bad thing happens, it will not be very terrible or bad. For example, "I didn't get into college, and everything is over, there will be no future."
This kind of thinking is irrational. For any event, there will always be a worse situation. Therefore, no event can be defined as extremely bad. However, if a person adheres to this view of "badness," then when he encounters what he calls a 100% bad event, he will be plunged into a negative emotional experience and unable to recover.
For example, "Am I not suitable to have friends? I really want to die, how can I get rid of this feeling..." You find it hard to accept that you are jealous, suspicious, and bored with your friends, and feel ashamed.
This is not the worst thing that can happen. Life is unpredictable, and natural and man-made disasters can suddenly bring unbearable hardship. These bad experiences make you grow, and when difficulties come again, they make you feel less bad. There are multiple dimensions to the value of life: children, friends, lovers, employees... No one can fulfill all roles at all times, expand their horizons and circles, take on as much responsibility as possible for themselves, society and the world, adhere to the truth, and repair shortcomings.
I will now provide a few suggestions on what to do and how to do it.
First, you must sow the seed of a correct belief.
Second, provide the seed with soil, sunlight, and care to grow it.
Third, devote time, persevere, and wait for the flowers to bloom.
You can't stand the pain of others because you don't think you're good enough.
If you can't stand the pain of others, it's because you think you're not good enough.
Problems exist and are maintained by our intention to solve them.
When you focus on self-development rather than the problem itself, you stop treating the problem as a problem. This causes the problem to wither and disappear due to a lack of attention, and it ceases to be a problem.
If you focus on the wrong things, you'll never get to the right things.
Every time you think something like "She is better than me, I can't surpass her," stop. Take your attention away from "her/the problem" and back to "me/growth" or anywhere else. Do something else. Read a book or read aloud, go for a run, call a loved one, go shopping with friends, have a meal... Anything that gets you moving and away from comparing yourself to her will boost your energy and help you resist the interference of negative emotions.
Read a book and recommend it for free on the WeChat Reading app.
Jordan Peterson, author of 12 Rules for Life
#1 A lobster that has overcome its fears never looks down. Stand up straight with your shoulders back.
Stand up straight with your shoulders back.
#2 Give up bad friends. Make friends with people who genuinely want the best for you.
Make friends with people who want the best for you.
#3 Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping.
#4 Defeat the inner critic. Compare yourself to your past self, not to someone else's present self.
Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.
I am here to tell you that...
I am writing to confirm that...
I wish you the best!
Comments
I understand your feelings, and it's okay to feel this way sometimes. Maybe talking about your fears with your friend could help clear the air between you two.
It sounds like you're going through a really tough time emotionally. Have you considered speaking to a counselor or therapist who can provide professional support?
Jealousy can be a powerful emotion. Remember, everyone has their own journey. Try focusing on your unique path and celebrate what makes you special instead of comparing yourself.
Comparing ourselves to others is something we all do, but it doesn't mean we're not worthy. Perhaps finding ways to build your selfesteem can help shift your perspective on friendships.
Your worth as a person isn't determined by your job or achievements. It might help to remind yourself of the qualities that make you a good friend and focus on those aspects of your relationship.