ACCEPTANCE

What exactly is inferiority complex? An inferiority complex in the fields of Psychology and Psychoanalysis is a feeling that one is inferior to others in some ways. Such feelings can arise from an imagined or actual inferiority in the afflicted person. Inferiority complex is an advanced state of discouragement, often embedding itself into one’s lifestyle.”  Bukonla Akinwande’s, Take A Step, Pg 71.

As young people, one of the greatest challenges we face in life is, acceptance. Most of us feel and act so inferior that, the best we could offer ourselves in order to be accepted by our peers, friends, colleagues, family and society is to make ourselves conform to the standards (negative) of others or the society even when it hurts.

Recently, Mr. Uti, the young man who once won the Big Brother Africa contest was angry with a Director in the Tourism Ministry in Nigeria who refused to accept Uti as an ambassador of Tourism for Nigeria because of his dread locks and pierced ears. Of course, Uti was crossed with the man because according to him, the man was taking it too far. Uti said he was in the entertainment industry and so, he must have a dreadlock and pierced ears to be acceptable by his target audience!

The above scenario is exactly what happens to most of us. In order to be accepted by our friends, we go against our culture (good ones) and imbibe wrong cultures which are sometimes detested by the citizens of the countries from whom we copy them from.

Furthermore, in order for some of us to be accepted, we sometimes want to play God. Simple, we promise heaven and earth when we know we do not even have the capability to move a stone. Some of us tell so much lies in order to be accepted by other people that we are sometimes disgraced at the end of the day. I call to mind the case of a lady who loved to form in school, and as such painted herself big in order to be accepted by her classmates who were in the upper class in the society. She told them she lived in one of the high brow areas in Lagos, whereas she lived in the ghetto.

Her secret was revealed one day and she lost her place of honour among her mates.

When some of us are given some assignments to do, such as organizing a picknic, youth event etc, we make so much noise about how we put everything in place to the detriment of the fellow who assigned the task to us. Now, why do we sometimes make so much noise about our organization skills? We want people to recognize our efforts and accept our person. Unfortunately, some of us don’t even do bulk of the job, probably just a little here and there.

You know what? You don’t need to make so much noise in order to be accepted. If you have sterling qualities, you will stand out anywhere. You don’t even need to make any noise, as your work and character will promote you and you will be accepted instead of you having to noise it to everyone.

Come on, accept your person, learn from others, improve on your weak areas and affect your generation positively!