Many people, when they mention inferiority, instinctively think that it is something that needs to be corrected or eliminated, as if a person is automatically flawed if they lack confidence, strength, or success. Almost everyone experiences a core feeling during growth: I am not good enough, I can't do it, I am incapable, I need to become stronger. This feeling is not failure but the starting point of becoming human. The real issue is never whether one has inferiority feelings, but whether a person can bear the sense of “imperfection.” When a child cannot handle this feeling, they may suppress themselves, deny themselves, constantly seek approval, or even develop depression and helplessness to maintain a superficial sense of safety.

When an adult cannot bear this feeling, they may prioritize dignity, face, and control above all else, even at times sacrificing their child's authentic life to maintain their own sense of value. You will find that many phenomena we have discussed before—suppressed children, emotionally numb teenagers, parents who are extremely afraid of failure, adults who value success and face more than relationships—are all related to one thing at their core: the fear of inferiority. Because once you admit that you are not good enough, imperfect, or limited, it means facing the uncertainties of growth, the hardships of the process, and the reality of unpredictable outcomes.

Some people choose to move forward, transforming this feeling into ability, understanding, and responsibility, while others choose to suppress it through control, denial, or superiority. So you see a very ironic phenomenon: those who appear most confident are often the most fragile, while truly stable people are able to admit their shortcomings. From this perspective, inferiority is not the enemy. The real danger lies in a society, a family, or an educational system that does not allow people to feel they are not good enough. When a person can admit that they are still on the path of becoming, they truly have room to grow. And this is precisely the starting point for many issues we have been discussing—child education, parent dignity, relationships, and so on—that can be re-understood.