In the 1970s, developing high self-esteem became popular in the world of psychology. But teaching children that they are special only creates entitled adults. And entitlement is not happiness. Entitled people can't take responsibility for their problems, so instead, they ignore them.
Whereas a person with actual high self-worth can look at negative characteristics, acknowledge them, and act to improve them.
Realising that you – and your problems – are not special is the first and most important step toward solving them. We are all pretty average at most things that we do. The media shows us the extraordinary – the best of the best and the worst of the worst. Yet the vast majority of life is un-extraordinary. It's just average.
Because we only see the extremes, we believe that everyone and everything must be exceptional. And because we're all quite average most of the time, we feel insecure and inadequate because we think that we aren't living up to the unrealistic bar that we set for our lives.
Instead of questioning what we actually deserve or don't deserve, we feel like we are entitled to an extraordinary life (even though if everybody had an extraordinary life, then, by definition, no one would have an extraordinary life).
Once you realise that it's okay to be average, the pressure will go away. The stress and anxiety of always feeling inadequate and constantly needing to prove yourself will dissipate. You will learn to appreciate the “average” things in life – simple friendship, creating art, reading a good book. Things that actually bring you pleasure and happiness.