To stop feeling worthless, one of the first things to do is find out why you have this feeling. Once you find the reason, you can make decisions about how to make things better, whether the feeling of worthlessness comes from your relationships or a stressful situation you can't control. Either way, the steps below should help you deal with the problem.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Feeling Useful
Step 1. Try to identify the cause of the problem
Is it a particular relationship that makes you feel worthless? Do you feel useless for a situation you can't control? Or do you think you are not contributing to society in all the ways you could? Finding out the cause of the feeling of worthlessness is the first step in changing your life.
- One way to analyze your feelings is to write them in a journal. Reflect on the previous questions as you write, and try to understand what is bothering you.
- Alternatively, try talking about your problems with a trusted friend. Sometimes letting off steam can help you figure out what's wrong.
Step 2. Find something you are passionate about
Find out what you're good at by trying out different hobbies and reading books. Search and find what makes you happy, and how you can contribute your skills to offer something to the world.
- One way to find out what might interest you is to take college-level courses in the place where you live. These courses may not cost excessively, and they can help you understand if you are truly interested in a topic. You may also find small local college courses that offer classes in the evenings or on weekends for those working full-time.
- Alternatively, try a few courses at local museums if you're interested in art or history.
- Another possibility is to get books from the local library. Book lending is usually free, and you can take the time to find out about topics that interest you.
- If you want to meet people with similar interests, look on social media like Meetup and Facebook to find people in your area who share your interests.
Step 3. Make a nice gesture every day
Offer someone a cup of coffee. Bring slippers to your loved one without them asking. Offer parking to someone who seems stressed out. The little things you can do for people every day can help you feel needed.
Step 4. Volunteer in the community
Volunteering is not only an important way to make yourself feel useful, it also allows you to help people. Choose something you like to volunteer. If you love books, offer your time at the local library. If you enjoy working with children, offer childcare services where possible.
Step 5. Get used to gratitude
Focus on what's positive in your life. This way, you can overcome the feeling of being useless or worthless. It also puts you in tune with the positive side of things, and makes you more peaceful.
One way to focus on what's right in your life is to keep a gratitude journal. Write down the five things you are grateful for in your life every day. Some use social media like Facebook to accomplish the same thing - that is, they post five things every day they are grateful for as an update of their status. Using social media can give you important motivation, especially if you get positive feedback from friends
Step 6. Talk to yourself in a positive way
Sometimes feeling worthless is due to a low level of self-esteem. You can feel like you have nothing to offer the world. However, daily acknowledge yourself of the things you are doing well. Draw the differences between you and others, and look for them in yourself every day.
- One way to build yourself is to use your image to your advantage. Every morning, make eye contact and say something positive about yourself out loud.
- Stick notes with positive phrases on the fridge so you can see them every day. Write something like "I am a person who deserves everything" or any other phrase that can increase your self-esteem.
Step 7. Accept the compliments
Just as you speak positively to yourself, accept the positivity from other people, especially for something you do or who you are as a person. You may feel that you don't deserve the compliment, but people are usually sincere when they take the trouble to compliment you. Think about your contributions that inspired those compliments.
Step 8. Contribute to the causes that interest you
If you are passionate about the conservation of natural resources, go out and get busy. Organize protests. Write letters. Talk to people. Fighting for what you believe in can help make you feel less worthless, because you are doing something for friends and for the country.
Step 9. Try not to postpone
Stay away from potential distractions like your computer, TV, phone, cat, or fridge. If you postpone, you won't be able to get anything done. However, if you finish the activities you started, you will surely feel more useful. Start with something small, like cooking dinner for your spouse, and then move on to more challenging tasks, like cleaning up the garage.
Step 10. Take care of yourself
Improve self-esteem and value your time and skills more. You will not be able to feel fulfilled if you are not careful enough about yourself. Don't underestimate yourself and take time to rest and relax when you need it.
One way to value yourself is to say "no" to requests for which you don't have the time or energy to complete them. If you are interested in too many things, you will not be able to make your full contribution to each
Part 2 of 3: Feeding Your Relationships
Step 1. Listen to others more attentively
Be active in the way you listen. That is, pay attention to what your interlocutor is saying instead of thinking about the things you want to say. Be interested in what the other person has to say and respond in a way that shows your attention.
Step 2. Be grateful
Recognize what the people close to you do for you. Recognition shows them that you notice what they do for you and that you appreciate their commitment.
Step 3. Be there for the people around you
Your presence is one of the best gifts for the people you love. He says you care about them.
Step 4. Celebrate what makes other people unique in your life instead of mortifying them
Instead of laughing at your boyfriend when he cries, let him know that you appreciate being honest. Instead of making fun of a friend dancing like a fool in the kitchen, join in the fun.
Step 5. Get rid of harmful relationships
Some relationships will never work out well no matter what you do. If another person is acting in a way that abuses your emotions or just doesn't want to give you the time, maybe you should stay away. You may feel useless in a situation like this, because you may feel like you have failed. However, you may simply not be compatible with the other person, avoid thinking that you have not helped keep the relationship going. Maybe the other person has problems to resolve before they relate to anyone in any way, so you shouldn't have any reason to feel guilty.
Part 3 of 3: Dealing with Stressful Situations
Step 1. Do what you can
You may not be able to resolve the situation - your mother will still be sick no matter what you do. However, you can be there for her. It can make you live when you need it. You can offer support and encouragement. You will not be able to handle the problem as you would have liked, but at least you will have done something, and you can alleviate the feeling of uselessness.
Step 2. Take time to stop and breathe if you find yourself in the middle of a stressful situation
You can pray, meditate, or just take a few deep breaths; always take a moment to calm down, in any way. Accept that you are not in control of the situation.
Step 3. Focus on what's going well and work to make this a more important part of your life
Your mother may be sick, but you can use the time you spend with her to develop a better relationship than you have had in the past.
Step 4. Talk to others about what you are feeling in the situation
Even if nothing changes, it will help others understand that you are not alone in feeling the same things, and this is one way you can provide help. It also opens up to discussion, so that others also have the opportunity to express their feelings.
Step 5. Check yourself to see if you have depression
Long-lasting stressful situations can lead to depression, and feeling worthless may be just a symptom, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms.
- Symptoms of depression include having trouble concentrating, feeling pessimistic, not being interested in things you usually enjoy, feeling guilty, feeling very tired, constantly being sad, and having physical pains such as headaches or stomach pains.
- Feeling sad occasionally doesn't mean you're depressed. Depression involves prolonged periods of asthenia and sadness. When symptoms begin to pervade your life, you may be depressed.
Step 6. See a doctor if you suspect you are depressed
You may need medication, or you may need professional advice to help you solve some problems, and this can help alleviate the feeling of worthlessness. Remember, depression is not a sign of weakness. It can be caused by a traumatic event in your life, but it could also result from a chemical imbalance that needs to be corrected. Also, some medications, your genes, and other problems like illness can lead to depression.
Advice
- Helping others will give you fulfilling motivations.
- Acknowledge your contributions to others.
