Welcome back to Podcast and Chill.
I'm your host Leo who loves to chill and joining me is my calm and wise co -host Gwen.
Oh come on Leo, I'm not as great as you think I am.
No Gwen, I'm just saying the facts.
Anyway, hello everyone.
Hope all of you are doing well.
Okay, Gwen, but before we begin the podcast, I want to ask you a question.
Sure, go ahead. You said to me earlier that you are not great as I think you are, right?
Yep. So, do you sometimes feel like you are not good enough?
Wow, that's a good question, Leo.
I do sometimes. Life can feel stressful, and all I worry is about falling behind others.
I see. I think everyone feels that way at some point.
It's normal to question ourselves sometimes.
I had those moments too.
Really? Yes, many people feel the same way.
Seeing other people's achievements makes them insecure.
As a result, they keep wondering if they're good enough, and comparison starts.
I see. After all, I don't think it's a big deal.
Our worth is so much greater than insecurities and comparisons.
That's right, Gwen.
and today we'll talk about why we feel like we're not good enough and how to handle it.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy our episode today.
We've also made a free PDF with tips and vocabulary to help you on your English learning journey.
Now, let's get started.
So, Leo, have you ever wondered why you feel this way?
Well, I think a big part of it comes from comparison.
We see people on social media living perfect lives, and it's hard not to feel less than.
Sometimes it's the pressure from our society.
We are often told to look or act a certain way or achieve big things.
As a result, we feel pressured to constantly follow high standards.
For me, social media really messes with my head.
One minute I'm scrolling, seeing someone's dream vacation or amazing career news, And the next I'm thinking, what am I even doing with my life?
I get that. Social media shows only the highlights, not the struggles.
You know, the filtered version of someone else's life.
Right? I mean, everyone rarely posts about their bad days or their mistakes.
For me, growing up, it wasn't even social media.
It was seeing people at school who seemed to have everything.
Looks, good grades, a lot of friends.
because of that i kept comparing myself to them thinking i would never measure up to them i see but after all i understood that no one feels good enough all the time even the people who seem confident have moments of doubt so how do you know if you or someone else feels like they're not good enough
let's start with the inner signs the things we feel but might not share One big thing here is self -doubt.
It's that little voice in your head saying, you're not smart enough, or you'll never be good at this.
Another thing is the need to stay perfect all the time.
I read that an expert from the British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy said people who feel not good enough often pretend they're fine, even when they're struggling in relationships, family, or work.
Is there another sign?
It's seeking approval from others.
You might find yourself asking, was that okay?
After every little thing.
Just to hear someone say you did well.
And this feeling often shows up on the outside, too.
For example, some people avoid challenges because they're scared of failing.
I noticed I did this when I'm feeling insecure, like I'm trying to make myself smaller so I don't upset anyone.
I think the last sign is people -pleasing.
Saying yes to things you don't want to do because you're scared that people will think less of you If you see these signs in yourself, just know that it's totally okay You're not alone, and there are ways to work through it And if you see these signs in someone else, show them kindness Let's take a look
at five key phrases from today's discussion Follow high standards To do things in a way that is excellent or very good.
Example, a good student follows high standards by studying hard and doing their homework.
Filtered, something has been changed or edited, often to make it look or sound better.
Example, photos on social media are often filtered to look perfect.
Or, the news article was filtered to remove unwanted information.
Measure up. to be good enough or equal to something.
Example, is your new phone measuring up to your old one?
Pretend, to act like something is true, even if it's not real.
Example, let's pretend we're superheroes and save the day.
Seek approval from, to ask someone if they like what you're doing or if you're doing it right.
Example, don't just seek approval from everyone.
Do what you think is right.
Now, let's discuss something more important.
It's understanding that our worth isn't about what we achieve.
Yes. This took me so long to figure out.
I used to think, if I win that award or gain more money, I'll finally feel enough.
But guess what? When I got those things, I wasn't satisfied at all.
The feeling just didn't stick around.
That's because true self -worth doesn't come from what we achieve or how others see us.
It actually comes from inside ourselves.
It's about recognizing your own true value.
Things like your kindness, strengths, and the little things that make us unique.
Exactly. Sometimes we chase things just to prove we're good enough to the world.
But let's take a short moment and look inside yourself.
You yourself are a treasure already.
You just don't know how valuable and worthy you are.
Wow, that are such deep words, Leo.
You don't usually speak like this.
I know. Surprised, huh?
I just like to act silly to make people laugh.
Okay. Now, can you think of something about yourself that makes you proud, but isn't about achievement or success?
I'd say my sense of humor.
I love making people laugh.
It really feels amazing when I can make someone smile, especially if they've been having a tough day.
Seeing my friends smile because of something I said is the best feeling.
What about you, Gwen?
What makes you feel proud?
Hmm, for me, it's my ability to listen.
I think listening is such an amazing gift.
People often tell me they feel seen and understood when we talk, and that means so much to me.
It's not about fixing their problems.
It's just being there for them.
See? That's what I like about you, Gwen.
It's not about your achievements.
It's how you make people feel.
You make them feel heard and valued, and that's so powerful.
Thanks, Leo. I appreciate that.
And I feel the same way about you.
And what about our listeners?
I'm sure each of you has your own gift to share with the world.
Don't think about your insecurities.
Just take some time to slow down and reflect.
When you feel like you are ready, just tell us in the comments.
I truly believe that once you start seeing your strength, you will stop comparing yourself to others.
Wise words, Gwen. Once we start believing in our ability, there are a lot of ways to remind ourselves of our value.
One of them is recognizing little achievements.
It's not about the things you achieve because you want to compete with others.
It's about valuing what makes you proud of yourself.
Exactly. We often focus so much on big goals that we forget the small steps we've taken.
Maybe you cleaned your space today, helped a friend, or even just got out of bed when you didn't feel like it.
I used to think only big achievements mattered, but I've learned that every little step counts.
For example, last week I finally organized my closet.
It's not world changing, but it felt so satisfying once completed.
That's a great example.
And remember, learning and growth take time.
No one starts out perfect.
Think about learning to ride a bike.
How many times did you fall before you got it right.
Right. Here is a quote I got from my experience.
Failure isn't the end, it's part of the journey.
Every mistake teaches us something.
You're growing every day, even when it doesn't feel like it.
So celebrate the little things and be patient with yourself.
You're doing better than you think.
let's move on with some useful phrases of today's podcast figure out to understand or solve something example i couldn't figure out how to use the machine so i asked a friend for help sense of humor the ability to make things seem funny example my friend has a great sense of humor.
He always makes me laugh.
Feel seen and understood.
To feel like someone understands your feelings and experiences.
Example. When I talked to my therapist, I felt seen and understood for the first time.
Compete with to try to be better than someone else.
Example. Many students compete with each other to get the highest grades.
Every little step counts.
This means that even small actions can make a big difference.
Example, every little step counts when you're following your passion.
Now let's ask our listeners a few questions.
First question, when was the last time you felt proud of yourself?
Think of a moment when you did something kind, tried something new, or pushed through a challenge.
That feeling of pride is a reminder of your strength and value.
Now, for the second question.
How can you be kinder to yourself today?
Maybe it's taking a break, thanking yourself for trying, or simply saying, I'm enough.
Yeah, I feel like lots of people these days don't even know how to do that.
Then, let's all learn to do this for the better.
What are your thoughts on the questions?
Share your answers in the comments below.
We've had a great talk today, Gwen.
Yeah, and I'm surprised at how wise you are.
I always thought of you as the funny guy who loves jokes.
I know, Gwen. Glad you see this side of me.
I can do a lot, especially for our dear listeners.
That's so sweet of you, Leo.
You deserve to be valued also, Gwen.
Your calmness and wisdom make you so reliable.
Thank you. What do you think about today's topic?
Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments as we'd love to hear from you.
Thank you so much for tuning in to today's episode.
Goodbye, and see you next time.
