Why do setbacks make me feel incapable even when I have a skill?

Having a skill does not prevent self-doubt after setbacks. If you constantly compare yourself with others, you may feel good after praise or strong performance, then inadequate when someone else seems better. Confidence rises and falls with the results.

Looking back at my growth, this tension is clear. In primary school, comic impressions and short plays earned classmates’ and teachers’ recognition. In junior high, poetry and speech competitions revealed strengths. Yet I still envied classmates who were tall, handsome and academically successful. Entrance examinations not leading where I hoped also hurt. Earlier praise did not make me indifferent.

At junior college, I felt more confident in writing and speaking, but did not win every competition. I knew I had ability, yet without the highest ranking asked whether I was insufficiently capable. Only later, through practice and looking back, did I recognise how long I had moved between inferiority and confidence.

Later, helping clients through chess divination and receiving real feedback clarified my strengths. Rather than continually examining where you fall behind others, settle down, understand what you can do and develop it well. No one scores perfectly in everything. Remembering that there are things you do well gives strength to face other setbacks.