Insecurity has been demonized to the point that we want to completely eradicate it from our lives while trying to take refuge in what is known, familiar and safe. However, no matter how hard we try, we cannot escape insecurity, simply because living involves a high dose of chaos and uncertainty. Understanding this feeling will help us deal better with it when it appears, even using it to our advantage.
The best quotes about personal and emotional insecurity
Sociologist William I. Thomas believed that the search for security is one of the four fundamental desires of man and one of the main driving forces that drive him to action. Centuries earlier, Aristotle believed that insecurity was a prerequisite for progress. The truth is that throughout life we oscillate between states of security and insecurity, so we must learn to move in both situations.
1. “The task we must set for ourselves is not to feel secure, but to be able to tolerate insecurity” – Erich Fromm
Eliminating insecurity is impossible unless we have the gift of clairvoyance. That is why Fromm advocated developing the ability to tolerate uncertainty and live with chaos. The key, according to this psychologist, is to use insecurity as a driving force to adapt, grow and explore new possibilities.
2. “Most bad behavior comes from insecurity” – Debra Winger
Insecurity makes us feel vulnerable or exposed, which triggers defensive mechanisms to protect us, which can bring out our worst version. Winger reminds us that insecurity can manifest itself in different ways, becoming fertile ground for negative behaviors and attitudes such as aggression, envy or even excessive control, behaviors aimed at masking internal fragility.
3. “Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing” – Hellen Keller
Keller’s life was an ode to overcoming difficulties after fate struck her in the worst way by taking away her sight and hearing when she was still a baby. Because of this, she was convinced that absolute security is nothing more than an illusion that often prevents us from taking risks that allow us to live and experience fully.
4. “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will” – Suzy Kassem
Personal insecurity can be much more paralyzing than mistakes or failures. Inner doubts are often a reflection of irrational fears that become obstacles to achieving our dreams. This quote about insecurity encourages us to pay more attention to those worries and concerns that keep us tied to our comfort zone, preventing us from taking the risks necessary to achieve the life we want.
5. “There is no such thing as perfect security, only varying levels of insecurity” – Salman Rushdie
Rushdie has lived under death threats for many years and was the victim of an attack that left him with serious and permanent physical after-effects, so uncertainty has been his travelling companion. With this profound phrase about insecurity, he demystifies the illusion of certainty and invites us to normalise randomness as part of the human experience. In fact, recognising that we fluctuate between different levels of insecurity will allow us to adjust our expectations to better deal with the twists and turns that life brings.
6. “Even for those who see themselves as agents of change, the process of starting a new thing can cause times of disorientation, uncertainty and insecurity” – Joyce Meyer
This author and speaker reminds us that changes activate psychological mechanisms that push us to get out of our comfort zone, which is why they often generate fear of the unknown and even some resistance. Insecurity, in these cases, is a natural sign of transition and growth, so learning to manage it is part of that process that involves accepting the uncomfortable emotions that accompany any transformation that is worthwhile.
7. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow” – Carrie Fisher
This actress and writer reminds us that fear and insecurity are part of the human experience. We don’t have to wait for them to go away, but rather use them as a springboard to take action. When we are able to make decisions and move forward despite uncertainty, we develop self-confidence, which in the long run becomes the best antidote to insecurity.
8. “The trouble with worrying so much about your security in the future is that you feel so insecure in the present” – Harland Miller
This writer points out the enormous impact of anticipatory anxiety on our lives. Worried about achieving a certain security in the future, we fill the present with insecurity. In this way we condemn ourselves to live in a state of eternal anxiety: worried about what will happen, the here and now escapes us.
9. “Only the insecure strive for security” – Wayne Dyer
The obsessive search for security is often a symptom of underlying insecurity. A resilient, mature and emotionally balanced person is aware that life involves a high degree of uncertainty, so they learn to manage it and do not feel the need to maladaptively cling to those situations that generate security. This person does not seek absolute control, but rather learns to flow with events.
10. “The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise” – Tacitus
This quote about insecurity from Tacitus highlights the Roman view of uncertainty. He believed that in order to achieve ambitious goals, one must learn to tolerate a certain degree of anxiety and instability. Any major change involves taking risks, which means recognizing that things might not go as planned. Insecurity is therefore the material that great enterprises are paved with.
In short, these quotes about insecurity teach us that it is not an enemy to be defeated but a signal to be heeded and a state we must learn to live with. We do not have all the answers, but we can seek them out and learn along the way. We have the option to sink into insecurity or use it as a signal of caution that drives us forward.
Source:
Cameron, W. B. & McCormick, T. C. (1954) Concepts of Security and Insecurity. American Journal of Sociology; 59(6): 556–564.
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