Now, as it relates to this specific instance, the psychologist in me knows that while negativity is important, Negativity that is not properly harnessed, is useless. The value of negativity, much like many things, is directly related to its application. That application comes in two fundamental forms. Negativity that is constructive, such as the "fuel of discontent" mentioned, and the much more common form of negativity that is destructive as see when turned inward and left to fester. Destructive negativity rarely if ever serves a beneficial purpose. However destructive negativity is both more common and easier to happen. Despite such division negativity is really one singular perspective. The division is simply what it becomes in our presence and manipulation.
It is easy, through lack of contextual perspective, neglect, doubt, etc for negativity to move away from being productive and towards being destructive. In this cited case what you have here is negativity that is destructive because purposely looking at ones self in such negative context that serves no practical or beneficial end and is left to being negative for the sake of being negativity in fact erodes self worth. It is a common destruction. When someone views their being and dismissive of the traits/skills/exp that they have and negatively rationalizes that "my abilities are not really all that special" it only leads to a destructive end. While ones individual skills might not be the singularly most impressive example of an individual skill does not mean that the skill is not a useful trait. There is where the problem begins to root itself.
Very few people in this world or in history are such high examples of one specific trait or ability. While others might be better in one skill, often there will be many others who wish they had your personal level of ability. You cannot judge a persons merit on one specific thing. We are defined by the sum of our various different abilities and skills, often as much in how those traits interact/rely on other traits just as much as any individual trait. So when one looks at themselves as just a collective of various individual skills, traits, abilities, experiences, ect instead of the sum of all of those parts it becomes far too easy to devalue ones self worth simply because nothing stands out as pure excellence. This leads into destructive negativity in large part due to societal conditioning.
For absolutely no logical or beneficial reason we as a species tend to ascribe self worth related to being "the very best". Consider it for lack of a better term, Pokemon philosophy. We desire to be "the very best" in things. So the closer we are to that impractical desire, the greater our sense of satisfaction and self worth becomes. However that is a failing, that in fact is in direct opposition to humanity and our nature.
We are all unique with varying strengths and weaknesses. We are also humans. We are a social species for a reason. We are on a core psychological level designed to work together. The strengths of one ideally matched to fill in for the weaknesses of others so that when we work in unison we can accomplish feats far greater than what we could alone, or honestly what even the greatest examples of excellence would be able to on their own.
So despite being biologically hard wired to accentuate each other we end up ascribing entirely too much self worth to what we as individuals are. Understandably there are many who's sense of self worth is greater than others, of which some are completely unjustified in such an assessment. When we see often comically over inflated egos it makes us self conscious of our own because most people would not purposely wish to look so foolish. So instead of trying to avoid unjustly inflated ego and self worth, it becomes all too common to underestimate self worth. That negativity however creates an often times false perception that if nothing is truly outstanding based on individual assessment, then in that minds eye it means the total package is in no way exceptional. Choosing to devalue self worth rather than a more appropriate "total package" assessment. This negativity is a destructive self assessment that often is illogical and rarely accurate but because the negativity is not utilized in a constructive manner, it is free to wreak havoc when allowed to meander unchecked.
Now, as stated before, The value of negativity, much like many things, is directly related to its application. So even when negativity has been allowed destructive freedom to manifest in such counter productive ways, It is in no way locked into a perpetually destructive application. Again, discontent is the first step of progress. So when one has become fixated into an irrationally negative self perspective, that negativity can in fact become useful. If one feels, Even if incorrectly, that they are "nothing special" such negativity can be used constructively to self assess deficiencies. Once one is able to identify "the problem" and unsatisfied with remaining as "nothing special" that dissatisfaction can foster goals and spur on individual growth to overcome such deficiencies and effectively increase skills/abilities so that a state of reasonable and acceptable self worth can be attained.
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