6 Signs You're a High Achiever With Low Self Worth
It can be surprisingly hard to recognize low self-worth in yourself.
High achievers in the workplace sometimes recognize their competencies and skills but don't feel a sense of inherent self-worth that's separate from those. They see their worth as contingent on their achievements.
When it comes to understanding yourself, here's something everyone should know. Your self-concept contains two elements. The first is your view of your competencies. Do you see yourself as being good at a variety of skills?
The second element is your intrinsic self-worth. Do you feel as worthwhile as other people, independent of your skills? Do you feel like you have inherent self-worth as a human?
In this blog post, we will discuss six signs you're a high achiever with low self worth.
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1. You don't see yourself as deserving of support.
You think you should be able to handle everything on your own. For example, you're nervous about a medical appointment but think you should be able to go on your own, even if you'd like to ask a friend to go with you. Or perhaps you think you should be a superwoman (or man) and not need help maintaining your home or garden, even though you work full-time. Or you might think, "I should be able to succeed in my career without mentors or coaches."
2. You think it's reasonable for other people to make mistakes on the road to success, but not for you.
You expect yourself to be good at everything without practice or experience. You think this even in domains not central to your core expertise. For example, you think should be good at corporate design, even if you don't have a history or an interest in corporate design. In your career, you don't give yourself grace when you're a beginner at something. You expect to be good at everything, right off the bat.
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3. You find a way to recast other people's mistakes as your mistakes.
For example, you get misdiagnosed by a doctor. Instead of thinking it was their fault, you think it was your fault for not picking a better doctor. Or, if someone whose job is to help or teach you isn't doing that well, you think it's your fault for not effectively extracting that from them.
4. It's easier for you to think of what you haven't achieved than what you have.
In today's era of social media, our minds effortlessly wander into countless imagined lives we could be leading. It's easy to imagine that on your weekends you could be an Instagram influencer, that you could be well on your way to visiting 4 countries, or that you could be body-building or becoming an expert baker on the side.
Do you often find yourself dwelling on the roads not taken, rather than appreciating the path you have chosen and the accomplishments you have achieved? Most of us can only work on one or two major goals at a time. Do you compare yourself to literally everybody else?
5. You feel embarrassed in situations that don't warrant embarrassment
For example, your child is sick or experiencing a challenge and you feel embarrassed by that. Or, a completely chance event happens to you, like getting pooped on by a bird, and that triggers embarrassed feelings rather than recognizing it could happen to anyone.
6. Difficulty accepting compliments
When someone with low self-worth receives a compliment, they may struggle to accept it graciously. They may downplay their achievements, deflect the praise onto others, or dismiss the compliment altogether. This difficulty stems from their internal belief that they are not worthy of recognition or admiration.
Did you relate to this profile? You may have noticed that the themes behind many of the points include being excessively independent and taking excessive self-responsibility.
By recognising the various signs that can prevent talented employees from reaching their full potential, organisations can take steps towards creating a culture and environment that encourages everyone to perform at their best. This will not only benefit individual staff members but also the organisation as
a whole.
Related: Your Biggest Problem Is You Care Too Much About What People Think
If you resonate with any of these signs, it’s essential to recognize that your self-worth should not solely be tied to your achievements. Seeking support from a therapist or counselor can be incredibly beneficial in addressing and working through these underlying feelings of low self-worth. With time and effort, it is possible to develop a healthier sense of self and find fulfillment beyond external accomplishments. Remember, you are worthy, regardless of your achievements.
By taking into account these five common signs, with time and effort, it is possible to develop a healthier sense of self and find fulfillment beyond external accomplishments. Remember, you are worthy, regardless of your achievements.
Let us know in the comments if you can resonate with any of these signs?
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