Where insecurities come from

Image: cueljs

Most of the time, negative thoughts and inner verbalizations are unconscious.

We often have automatic, negative thoughts about ourselves. For example, if someone doesn’t return our call, we might think, “They must not like me,” even if that’s not true. This negative self-talk can make us feel insecure.

It is obvious that the way we see ourselves, our self-concept, is of fundamental importance. If we have a low opinion of ourselves (low self-esteem), we’re more likely to feel insecure. This negative view most probably comes from past experiences or critical thoughts our parents have voiced towards us that we’ve internalized.

Most of the time, these negative thoughts and inner verbalizations are unconscious. This is where they derive their power from, undermining our self-acceptance. Because we are not fully aware of them, they can quietly influence how we feel about ourselves without us realizing it.

Being mindful means paying attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them. By doing this, we can notice our negative thoughts and start changing them, which can help reduce insecurity.

Recognizing that our insecurities come from within us gives us the power to change them. We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond and what we tell ourselves about it. By becoming aware of this negative ‘programming’ and changing the narrative about who we are, we can feel more empowered.