Amy couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling that she just wasn’t good enough. Her feelings of inadequacy were made worse following a number of dysfunctional relationships, in which she’d been controlled, cheated on, and ultimately rejected. In general, though, she felt she wasn’t good enough, not only for her romantic partners, but also for her parents, family, friends, and even her employers.

Feeling like we’re “not enough” or “not good enough” is a negative mental attitude or mindset. It involves negative self-talk that is underpinned by deep-seated feelings of inadequacy and insecurity across different aspects of our lives. At its core, feeling not good enough boils down to a struggle with self-esteem and feelings of unworthiness, a belief that we don’t deserve love, family, friendships, and success in our lives. For some individuals, these feelings can be painful and persistent, causing serious emotional distress. In severe cases, they can lead to an inferiority complex or imposter syndrome in which the person feels like........

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