Cultivating self-awareness is perhaps the single most important thing we can do as humans. It's only upon becoming aware of ourselves that the quality of our consciousness can truly start to grow, allowing us to discover the higher version of ourselves.
Become Aware of Underlying Feelings of Inferiority
All people carry an underlying sense of inferiority. This inferiority complex consists of thoughts and feelings revolving around a belief that we are not good enough and that we do not deserve love.
A good starting point for increasing one's level of self-awareness is to pay attention to the inner struggle between underlying feelings of inferiority and our ways of coping with these feelings. If we can use meditation to address this internal conflict, our minds will be set free, and we can begin to understand our true nature.
Take a moment and observe this inner struggle. Close your eyes and relax; then, notice the feelings of worry and stress deep within you. Worries, doubts, impatience, a desire to escape - we all experience this. We are not in complete harmony with ourselves.
Although we all suffer from this (to varying degrees, of course), we often feel ashamed of it. We do not want others to know about our inner turmoil, and sometimes, we do not even want to acknowledge it ourselves. So what do we do? Well, we try to hide it.
Two types: The Denier and The Apprehensive
When it comes to dealing with the inferiority complex, people can be roughly divided into two types; let's call them "the denier" and "the apprehensive."
The denier is often not particularly aware of their feelings of inferiority. When criticized or triggered, they often resort to one of the following strategies:
Getting defensive: The denier avoids introspection and refuses to acknowledge feelings that suggest they did not do well or made a mistake. This helps them keep their feelings of inferiority at bay.
Getting aggressive: Alternatively, the denier may become aggressive to fend off criticism. While effective in avoiding core issues, it leads to suffering.
Shutting people out: Another coping mechanism involves shutting people out to avoid dealing with feelings of inferiority, often through the silent treatment or ending relationships. This way, the denier avoids further confrontation and can more easily continue to suppress their feelings of inferiority.
The apprehensive, in contrast to the denier, is often very aware of their feelings of inferiority. Instead of trying to avoid acknowledging these feelings, as the denier does, their strategy is to try to appease them by seeking to satisfy what they perceive as lacking.
Pleasing people: The apprehensive type may go to great lengths to satisfy others and be "good," attempting to compensate for the nagging feeling of inadequacy. Despite receiving compliments and appreciation for this behavior, it never feels like enough and rather leads to exhaustion.
Struggling with anxiety and guilt: Constantly plagued by anxiety and guilt, the apprehensive person expends mental energy trying to handle these feelings. This often leads to unbalanced outcomes. The individual may either do "too much" to truly try to rid themselves of their feelings of guilt or become completely passive because they feel they "aren't good for anything" anyway.
Constant self-doubt: The apprehensive type generally struggles with low self-confidence and constant self-doubt, making them tense, nervous, and creating internal sorrow.
While most people can likely recognize aspects of themselves in both types, they also tend to align more with one type than the other. The ability to handle feelings of inferiority varies, of course, between individuals. Some handle them better than others, and some experience stronger feelings of inferiority than others. Nevertheless, we are all susceptible to it. No matter how developed one may be as a person, the key to increased self-awareness is to note the interplay between the inferiority complex and coping mechanisms.
Get to know yourself through meditation
The foundation of meditation is introspection and being honest with oneself. In meditation, we systematically explore our inner world and become aware of what we carry within us. Gradually, we begin to recognize our patterns and how fixed our minds are. This process can be painful due to the shame associated with feelings of inferiority.
As we become more aware of the patterns in our minds, we can release the thoughts and feelings. This frees up mental space, and we start to feel better. Over time, we stop trying to "cope" with our feelings of inferiority and instead begin to accept them. We develop acceptance and openness towards them, leading to less inner stress.
As we begin to accept our feelings of inferiority, we can use meditation as a tool to release them. This accelerates the pace of our self-awareness development. It allows our minds to expand and become less attached to preconceived notions of ourselves. Our minds become flexible, and we can adapt to various situations and people we encounter in life.
Throughout this journey, we discover new strengths and abilities within ourselves. Freed from the constant need to protect ourselves, we emerge - in our vulnerability - as more genuine, humble, and courageous individuals. With the realization that failure or imperfection is no longer so daunting, we can truly embark on the challenges we face on our journey toward personal development.
Fortunately, it is not just the inferiority complex that unites us; we all carry something beautiful inside. Meditation is the way we unlock this dormant potential - the treasure - we all possess. Meditation is a groundbreaking way for anyone striving to develop their self-awareness and improve their inner well-being.
Michael
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