Self-abasement for Dummies

Self-abasement is a word that describes a feeling or an action that involves putting oneself down or lowering one's self-esteem. It's like when you constantly criticize or belittle yourself, making yourself feel small and unworthy. Imagine you're in a race, and throughout the race, you keep telling yourself that you're not good enough, that you'll never win, and that you're just a failure. This negative self-talk and feeling of self-abasement can come from being too hard on yourself, always focusing on your weaknesses instead of your strengths.

Let me give you an analogy to help you better understand. Think of a flower, like a beautiful rose. It grows in a garden and is surrounded by other flowers too. Each flower is unique, with its own color, shape, and fragrance. Now, imagine if the rose constantly compared itself to the other flowers, thinking it's not as pretty or not as fragrant. It keeps telling itself that it's not good enough and hides its beauty. This self-abasement can prevent the rose from flourishing and embracing its true potential.

Self-abasement can also be seen in situations where someone puts themselves down in front of others. For example, let's say you did something well, like solving a difficult math problem. But instead of feeling proud of your accomplishment, you start saying things like, "It was just luck," or "I'm not that smart." These negative comments and feelings of self-abasement can prevent us from recognizing our own worth and can impact our confidence and self-esteem.

It's important to note that self-abasement is not the same as being humble. Humility involves recognizing our strengths and weaknesses while still having a positive self-image. Self-abasement, on the other hand, involves constantly putting ourselves down and believing we are not deserving of praise or success.

So, in summary, self-abasement is when we constantly criticize ourselves, focus on our weaknesses, and believe that we are not good enough. It can hinder our growth and prevent us from recognizing and appreciating our own worth. Remember, you are unique and have many strengths, so it's important to be kind to yourself and acknowledge your accomplishments.