The Root of It

[Insecurity - V]

The one that pokes fun at others.
The one that dismisses instruction.
The one that appears callous.
The one that’s fast-talking.
The one that threatens and harasses.
The one that will not compromise.
The one that dictates and demands.
The one the hides in cliques.
The one that bullies.

We all know the teenager that projects an air of confidence, self-assurance, and toughness . . . he or she is often the most insecure, scared, fearful, and needy.

At the root of insecurity is the belief that I must be better, different, or entirely other to be accepted. Insecurity always seeks affirmation and belonging. (And the fear of rejection flairs insecurity sometimes to debilitating levels.)

Aggression, dismissiveness, and harassment are not expressions of confidence at all. They are counterintuitive attempts to hide the opposite: a lack of confidence in our true self.

This is why it’s not merely a teenage phenomenon; many adults are wrestling with insecurity, too.