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.
Shared Struggle: Unveiling the Universal Inferiority Complex
A good starting point is to become aware of the inner battle between the underlying inferiority complex and our ways of coping with those feelings. If we can recognize and use meditation to address that internal conflict, our minds will be set free, and we can begin to realize our true nature.
Everyone, without exception, harbors an underlying feeling of inferiority in their minds. This inferiority is a mass of thoughts and feelings that revolve around the core beliefs that we are not good enough and that we are not worthy of love.
We can observe this if we take a moment to sense what's going on inside ourselves. If we were to close our eyes for a moment, we might sense a feeling of dissatisfaction and unease deep within. A bit of stress, some worries, doubts, impatience, a desire to escape – we all experience this. We are not in complete harmony within ourselves.
Although all of us suffer from this (to varying degrees, of course), we are often ashamed of it. We don't want others to know about our inner turmoil, and sometimes, we don't even want to acknowledge it ourselves. So what do we do? We try to hide it.
Coping Strategies: Deniers and the Apprehensive
When it comes to coping with the inferiority complex, two groups of people can be roughly identified; let's call them "the denier" and "the apprehensive."
The denier is often not so aware of their feelings of inferiority. When criticized or poked at, they may resort to one of the following:
Getting defensive: The denier avoids introspection and refuses to acknowledge feelings that suggest they didn't do well or made a mistake. This helps them keep their inferiority at bay.
Getting aggressive: Alternatively, the denier may become aggressive to fend off any 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 inferiority feelings, often through the silent treatment or ending relationships.
The apprehensive, in contrast to the denier, is often acutely aware of their feelings of inferiority. Instead of attempting to avoid acknowledging these feelings, as the denier does, their strategy is to appease them by seeking to satisfy what they perceive as lacking.
People pleasing: The apprehensive type may go to great lengths to satisfy others, attempting to compensate for feelings of inadequacy. However, despite earning compliments and appreciation, it never feels like enough.
Anxiety and guilt juggling: Constantly tormented by anxiety and guilt, the apprehensive person expends mental energy trying to handle these feelings. This can lead to overcompensation or passivity.
Constant self-doubt: The apprehensive type generally struggles with low self-confidence and constant self-doubt, creating internal sorrow.
While most people can likely recognize aspects of themselves in both groups, they also tend to align more with one group. Furthermore, individuals vary in their ability to handle feelings of inferiority, with some managing it better than others, and some experiencing more pronounced inferiority than others. Nevertheless, we are all susceptible to it. No matter how developed one may be, the key is to increase self-awareness concerning the interplay between the inferiority complex and coping mechanisms.
Meditation: A Path to Self-Discovery and Acceptance
Meditation is all about introspection and self-honesty. During meditation, we systematically examine our minds, becoming aware of what lies within. Gradually, we start to recognize our patterns and how fixed our minds are. This process can be painful due to the shame associated with inferiority feelings.
As we become more aware of the patterns in our minds, we can release the thoughts and feelings. This release frees up mental space, and we start to feel better. Over time, we stop trying to "cope" with our inferiority feelings and instead accept them. We develop acceptance and openness toward them, leading to much less inner stress.
The acceptance of inferiority feelings opens the door for the application of meditation as a method to release them. This accelerates the pace at which we develop self-awareness. It enables our minds to expand and become less attached to preconceived notions of ourselves. Consequently, our minds gain flexibility and the ability to adapt to various situations and individuals encountered in life.
Throughout this journey, we unearth new strengths and abilities within ourselves. Freed from the constant need to protect ourselves, we emerge as more genuine, humble, and courageous individuals. Recognizing that failure or imperfection is no longer a daunting prospect, we can genuinely embark on the journey of personal growth.
Consequently, it's not just the inferiority complex that unites us; we all possess something beautiful inside. Meditation is the means to unlock that dormant potential—the treasure—we all possess. Meditation is truly a game-changer for anyone seeking to cultivate self-awareness and improve the well-being of their minds.
Europe Meditation Team