I would assume that at one point in everyone’s life, you’ve experienced this. It’s that feeling of inadequacy, the feeling that no matter what you do, sometimes it’s just not good enough. It’s okay to be proud of yourself once in a while. No one’s going to take it against you for feeling a sense of pride, especially when you know your strengths and you know where you’re good at. Sometimes, though, when you think you’re good at something, you find that somewhere, somehow, someone is better than you. Most of the time, someone’s always better than you.

It’s like, when you dress up one morning thinking, “wow, I look good” and then you come across somebody who wears a better outfit. Or when you tell yourself you’re beautiful and then you meet somebody who’s even more beautiful, so you just stick to saying, “well, I’m beautiful in my own right. Fuck her/him”.Or when you know a computer application and you’re good at it because people rely on you all the time when it comes to that, and then you meet someone who’s more knowledgeable, so you kind of just keep your mouth shut on how good you are at it and dismiss any praise saying, “No, it’s really nothing”. And you know deep inside that you mean it. Or when you feel that there is something in you that’s worth showing to people, like a talent or an ability you’ve always known you’re good at and because you’ve never been told you were bad at it, and then you meet somebody who has better talent that’s worth showing, better figure that’s worth drooling over, same ability but better than yours. So what’s left to do?

Two things, and these I learned just recently. One, you can sulk in depression, if you’re really that affected and your ego is hit badly, and feel insecure all you want. I would advise that you don’t show it. You never know just how people can sometimes enjoy watching others in misery. The good thing about this? Nothing. Simply put, it’s a defeatist attitude. It doesn’t get you anywhere. What good will it do if you looked down on yourself? No one’s perfect, not even the person who’s better than you. Sure, she’s more beautiful, sexier, probably kinder than most people, but there’s always something to be told behind every beautiful face or behind the kindest soul. There is no perfect being. The second and most practical option is don’t overdo yourself. Be humble and keep in mind that though you may not be the best, you’re doing the best that you can, and that is already fulfilling. Overdoing yourself might just end up with dissapointment.

Be humble. Humility is one of the things people hardly ever talk about when it comes to achievements. You see, people like to boast and show off their achievements. And it’s not because they want to rub it in your face just so you would feel inferior. On the contrary, it’s more for them than it is for the other person. It’s boosting their ego, increasing their self-esteem, and it’s only validated by other people. So be humble. Yes, admit to yourself these strengths, but keep them to yourself and thank the Lord for them. There is nothing that we have or that we are able to do that was not given to us by God. God gifted us with unique abilities and different personalities. No two people on Earth are ever the same. You can’t always be the best in everything, because then if you’re just so perfect, you might as well be God.

**Joanna**