Seven Sins That Will Destroy Your LifeSample

Self-pity (1)

The feeling of self-pity is more common than we think and spiritually more destructive than we think. It is a form of self-indulgence with the self as the focus.

Self-pity keeps you stuck in the past, and how you think and respond to the past determines how you think and feel about yourself, how you see other people, and your spiritual growth. People with self-pity see nearly anything as a personal attack and that they do not deserve it. Someone who allows self-pity struggles to take the opportunity to choose happiness because they're focussing on all that has gone wrong. People who struggle with the emotion of self-pity will easily withdraw when things don't go their way and refuse to take any responsibility when things go wrong. Self-pity is a form of manipulation.

Self-pity enters people’s lives as a reaction to a lack of positive love, experiences of failure, being deprived of love, not feeling safe, abuse, or severe trauma.

How can you combat self-pity? The first step is the most important: acknowledge that you allow self-pity to control your life. Nobody likes someone who allows self-pity; therefore, people would do their utmost to explain that their reactions are valid, show insight and discernment, and handle life very well despite all the horrors they are facing.

Secondly, you have to acknowledge/face your feelings. Ask the Holy Spirit where these negative feelings are coming from. When you have identified them, forgive the people who hurt you. Without forgiveness, you cannot be set free from self-pity.