I confronted my co-worker (in the best way)

 My first therapy session helped me identify that my anxiety stems from feeling incompetent. And feelings of incompetence comes from comparing myself to my co-worker from my cohort (link to the story).

And, I confronted her about my insecurities.

For the sake easier storytelling, I’ll call this co-worker “Ashley.” Ashley and I started on the same day for the same employer doing the same job. Ashley can do so much more than me and I look up to her a lot for all that confidence and competence.

We met up for a drink and I told Ashley how impressed I am with her and envious of how good she is at her job. I also told her I started therapy and that I told my therapist about her because I constantly compare myself to her.

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

She told me that she’s really impressed with the way I connect with my patients! She said she has talked to other nurses about how she’d like to talk to her patients like how I talk to my patients. I yelled at her, “You liar! No way!” I actually couldn’t believe that she’d want to be like me! She said I look like I’m doing really well at my job. I just could not believe this!

I was what she was to me. We were both envious of each others’ skills.

I felt a little sorry for myself that I called her a liar. How little faith do I have in myself that even if someone tells me something good, I can’t even believe it?