What Happens When You Don’t Feel Good Enough?

All of us have those thoughts. The ones that whisper in our ears late at night when we are trying to sleep. They whisper, “You’re not good enough to ….,” or, “You’re not as good as….” Don’t get me wrong; there are always going to be people who are better than us at certain things. However, my point is how do we handle those thoughts and keep them from putting us into a downward spiral?

When I don’t feel good enough, I just want to feel good. This is probably where the term “comfort food” was first used. Down in the dumps – eat something to make you feel better. How many times have we watched a movie where a breakup has just happened? I bet that most of the time, the scene ends with a pint of ice cream.

Breakups and marriage problems are just a couple of the issues that most of us have faced at one time or another. Unless you only had one boyfriend your entire life and you married him, you’ve probably experienced one or two breakups. I don’t remember ever eating a pint of ice cream, but I’m sure a pack of Oreos or Thin Mints might have been involved.

Some people want to forget the feeling of being “less than.” They look for a numbing agent, something to take away the pain. Alcohol can be used for this purpose. I think this is called drowning our sorrows. However, if you turn to alcohol or drugs to numb the pain, you usually end up creating more problems than you started with.

When you are hurting and feeling like you’re not good enough, you want some kind of validation that you are worthy. Some will turn to sex to get over a breakup. That way, they feel like they are wanted instead of feeling discarded. Some people turn to gambling for a temporary high. If they can win a small jackpot, then they might feel like they are smarter and better than anyone else. The problem is gamblers lose as much as they win if not more.

Then there are others who turn to retail therapy (gasp) to make them feel better about themselves. You know, I preach about dressing and looking good, but that doesn’t mean that you should buy clothing to relieve depression or stress. Those are issues that clothing can’t fix and can lead to financial problems.

So, what can we do when problems, issues, and feelings of not being good enough pop-up? For me, I turn to joy, gratitude, and thankfulness.

I’m in an industry that is dominated by beautiful, thin, well-spoken, and knowledgeable women. Talk about feeling less than!!! But, when I start to hear those whispers, I try to remind myself of three things that bring me joy, that I’m grateful for, and that I’m thankful.

Psalm 118:24

²⁴ This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 107:1

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Philippians 4:12–13

¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Romans 12:12

¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Thinking of each day as a gift from the Lord, and being thankful for all he has blessed me with, fills me with joy. However, I realize that some people might need professional help when suffering from depression. Please seek help if you can’t shake the feelings of depression, don’t let the whispers win.

To GOD Goes The Glory!

Have A Blessed Day