How does one handle feelings of inadequacy and guilt in a relationship, relating to a lack of success?

If you feel inadequate or guilty, you should consider if the relationship is honestly for you or not. If you love your partner and think that you can work things out, talk with them and do whatever it takes to fix the problem(s). There's not point in feeling guilty about the past; there's nothing you can do to change it anyways. Look ahead, keep your head up, fix things, and make them right for the future. When things are better, always maintain them and keep them up. If the relationship is not for you, then kindly let your partner know how you feel, learn from the experience, and find someone more compatible when you are ready. Good luck!

From my experience, when feeling inadequate or guilty, it is best to take a step back from the relationship. Not necessarily break off the relationship, but just put yourself first and try to examine why you are feeling this way. Once you find a reason for it, you can find a path towards correcting it and improving your feelings. Its always a good choice to explain this course of action to the other people in the relationship, they could even give their input.

It is often the most successful people that have the least feelings of success. Smart people can overthink and have self doubt, particularly if they come from an environment that stressed success over love as a child. Working on loving and caring for ones self, accepting love of and praise from others and general confidence can often help with feelings of inadequacy and guilt in a relationship. Past behavior does not necessarily predict future results. What once seemed like a failure my turn into a springboard for helping others and yourself from learning from past mistakes.

For me talking it through is the only way. I was wracked with guilt and inadequacy a few years ago when I was too sick to work. I'd worried and fretted about it for so long, I'd convinced myself the best option was to leave my husband - the way I saw it, he deserved better than what I could offer him. Eventually, I broke down and told him how I was feeling (after my bags were packed) and he was amazing. He reassured me that we would be fine, he didn't feel any resentment towards me or our situation and now we're stronger than ever. Talk it out, it's the only way.