Things never go my way.
I’m always messing up.
They never listen to me.
I don’t matter.
Ever had any of these thoughts? I know I have—more than I care to admit.
I get it. Some days are hard. Sometimes we make mistakes.
We all have those thoughts of self-pity and doubt. While it can be challenging to avoid those negative thoughts, we can choose to exchange our self-pity for gratitude.
Self-pity keeps our eyes on blame, fear, and discontent. If we are not careful, self-pity will immobilize us to our past and hold us hostage to our mistakes. Self-pity keeps us absorbed in our unhappy thoughts and our troubles. We make everything about us.
But friends, self-pity wants to steal the best of us and a keep us from who we are meant to be.
We fight against self-pity when we focus on the goodness and glory of Christ. Out of our praise for Christ, our hearts overflow with gratitude.
Gratitude centers us on what it means to be loved, redeemed, restored, and sustained by Christ.
“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:4-6
If you are ready to kick self-pity to the curb so you can grow in your relationship with Christ and create a healthier life, try these three steps.
Start with the one.
When choosing to practice gratitude, it can seem a little daunting. Where do you start? Friend, simply start with the one. Identify one thing, one person, or one experience you are grateful for.
There’s no one “right” way to begin to express an attitude of gratitude. Pick what works for you and add it to a regular part of your day.
Before your feet hit the floor in the morning, go ahead and express gratitude to God.
Starting with just one statement of gratitude will begin to reshape your thoughts from self-pity.
When you find yourself focused on negative thoughts, think of one.
When your spouse does something to irritate you, think of the one.
When your teen’s attitude is pushing you over the edge, think of the one.
Focusing on one area of gratitude can lead to another grateful thought, then another, and another. Before you know it, you are more focused on the good than your toxic thoughts. You start to see the hand of God all around you instead of what you think are areas of thought.
Try it out and see what happens.
self pity
Write it out.
Choosing to keep a gratitude journal or gratitude list helps to keep our focus on the good. Setting time aside forces our brains to reflect on our day and process our emotions in a healthy way. We get to experience that aha moment of “Wow, I have a lot to be thankful for.”
Whether you choose to keep a paper journal or a running list on your cell, taking intentional time to reflect on gratitude will help keep your heart tender. The more you write down over time, the more you start to quickly identify the good in your life. You start to see how God is working on your behalf even in the uncomfortable season.
Creating a consistent practice of writing your gratitude will help you to see more positives than negatives, especially when we choose to focus on the people in our lives.
Writing out our gratitude is particularly helpful on challenging days. We can reflect on the good that has already occurred in our lives, helping to bring light in a dark moment.
Get to writing friends!
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Say it out loud.
Taking the time to express appreciation and gratitude for the relationships in our lives helps up to develop and maintain stronger relationships with the special people in our lives. We deepen our connections when we stop taking our friendships and relationships for granted.
Where self-pity causes us to look at what we think people have done TO us, gratitude helps us to see what people have done FOR you.
Gratitude helps us to see others in a new way.
Instead of seeing everything our spouses, children, or friends may not do, we see what they are doing. So be sure to SAY something.
Whether you choose to say thank you to the person who held the door or buy a gift for a neighbor who helped with your yard, acknowledging the contributions of others impacts both our heart and theirs.
Be just as vocal about expressing your appreciation as you are about expressing your frustration.
Don’t just say thank you. Instead be specific about why you are grateful.
For example, your husband cooked dinner. Instead of saying “Thanks” when he prepares your plate say, “Babe, I appreciate you cooking dinner tonight. Thank you for helping out so I could get some rest.” Expressing the why behind your gratitude helps to positively reinforces their contributions.
Additionally, saying what we are grateful for out loud becomes a part of our praise to Christ. We are using our words to speak life and remind ourselves of Christ’s faithfulness in our lives.
In the morning driving to work, take time to praise God for all He has and is doing in your life. Praise is hard to do when we are stuck in self-pity mode. Discipling our thoughts to focus on gratitude helps us to exercise self-control instead of self-pity. No matter what is happening around us, we can choose to not allow it to impact what is happening in us.
Now friend, practicing gratitude and seeing the benefits take time. Taking time to write in your gratitude journal for a week is great. Please don’t be surprised if you don’t feel dramatically different or see any benefits right away. Cultivating gratitude takes place over time when you are intentional and consistent. Stick with it! The changes will come.
Intentionally choosing gratitude aligns our focus back on praise. We shift our thoughts from our lack, our problems, our worries, and our bad attitudes back to Christ. In everything, we can give thanks to the one who has given His all.
Before you know it, gratitude will be a part of who you are.
Cheering you on,
Related Posts
ladycimonne
I keep a gratitude journal and let me say, it has changed my perspective in so many situations! This was helpful and gave me even more insight into some of my behaviors! We all have growing to do 🙂
Joyce Brewer (@MommyTalkShow)
I don’t journal nearly as much as I should. I really need to set aside time to focus on a theme for my journal, like gratitude or overflow.
Mamie L. Pack
Joyce Brewer (@MommyTalkShow)Yes, creating intentional time to journal is important and helpful for sure. We seek gratitude journals in our shop. Check it out
https://mamiepack.com/product/do-less-live-more-a-gratitude-journal-book-pre-order-now/
Mimi Robinson
I’ve never been one to pity myself, as a kid I learned that it wouldn’t help anything I had going on. I write a lot though, and that allows me to keep my mind in a healthy place.
Mamie L. Pack
Mimi RobinsonThat is great Mimi! Pity doesn’t help anyone or anything. Writing is very therapeutic and helps us to stay focused on the right things.
MUAKimPorter
Thank you for sharing. I’m with Mimi. I’ve never done the self-pity bit. But this is helpful for those who have.
Mamie L. Pack
MUAKimPorterThanks Kim!
Leslie H.
Thank you Mamie for your positive and helpful posts. While I don’t have an issue with self-pity, like being reminded to keep up with my gratitude Journal.
Mamie L. Pack
Leslie H.Oh, keeping up with that gratitude journal will definitely help with cultivating a grateful heart.
Susan Evans (@SusanCEvans)
I’ve known so many people stuck in self-pity. I agree that trying to see the good in the situation and trusting that God will bring about something even better for us is what helps people snap out of the self-pity.
Mamie L. Pack
Susan Evans (@SusanCEvans)Seeing God changes everything.
Chrissie Murphy Designs
This is the kick in the pants I need!! I have a daily journal prompt about gratitude, and last night…. again….. I didn’t write anything. Last night I felt a stirring about “why aren’t you completing what you’re grateful about Chrissie?” And this morning…. here’s a blog post, where I sense I’m being disciplined by the Spirit through you Mamie. I will be better at this! I will! Thank you for sharing this post. It’s something I truly sense the Lord wants to speak to me on, and you’re right, it does win the fight against self pity. Bless you xx
staciesayzso
Say it write it and think it. This is so good! I’m going to really try to remember this next time my stinkin thinkin rears its ugly head.
Melissa Hoyle
Oh man, so so true!! I used to be a complainer (and I still go right back to that spot sometimes!). God convicted me and I have used these same things to stop…You are so right, our little pity parties completely rob us of the good God has laid out for us. We just have to open our eyes!
Mamie L. Pack
Melissa HoyleOh, Melissa!!! Those pity parties definitely get in the way.
Christiana
Thank you so much for the timely reminder that seld pity serves no purpose. I will try these steps to stay on track.
Mamie L. Pack
ChristianaYay!!
Ashlyn Lathrom
Great tips that are so easy to implement!
Mamie L. Pack
Ashlyn LathromThank you!
thesnippykit
These tips are great. I actually keep a gratitude and win journal for this reason. It helps change my mood and reminds me of the positive things going on in my life. Thanks for sharing!
– Stephanie | http://www.snippykit.com
Amanda
I think when we focus on the goodness and glory of Christ, we can fight against anything! This is great advice in this post. Thanks for sharing!
Mamie L. Pack
AmandaI completely agree Amanda!
Miss Millennia Magazine (@MissMillMag)
I have one gratitude journal. I love to write things there. This is one nice topic I love. Love reading this.
Mamie L. Pack
Miss Millennia Magazine (@MissMillMag)Thank me so much!
Raisa
I love this, gratitude is such an important attitude to have. Really changes the way we see things! ❤️
Amanda Krieger
I often find that I’m spinning away in a cycle of self-pity “my kids won’t leave me alone, my house is a mess, i’m tired, dinner will be late…” and I just have to STOP that cycle and say, “WAIT A MINUTE. I’m doing it. Things are crazy bc this is a crazy stage of life, but we are DOING it.” gratitude is SUCH a great way to do that — to be thankful for crazy kids that are healthy and thriving. Grateful that we have food on the table (even if it’s late!) etc.
Jennifer Bradley
I honestly needed to read this right now! What a great reminder that gratitude is the best way out of a negative mood and mindset!
Mamie L. Pack
Jennifer BradleyFocusing on gratitude helps us keep our eyes on all the good for sure.
Julie Smith
I am so proud of myself for finally establishing a consistent gratitude practice–2 months going strong!
frypartyoffive
I sometimes have self-pity issues, but I am working hard to overcome them!
Mamie L. Pack
frypartyoffiveYou are not alone. Many of us do. It takes time to unlearn negative behaviors and thoughts.
kimmieklewis
this is a perfect post for what’s going on right now
Mamie L. Pack
kimmieklewisThanks so much!
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Noteworthy Mommmy
I really needed these reminders. Even in hard times, trying times and loss there is always something to be thankful for. I began keeping a thankful journal and you have encouraged me to dust it off.
Mamie L. Pack
Noteworthy MommmyLove the thankful journal!
simplysweetlyblessed1
Love this! I definitely need to start a gratitude journal!
Mamie L. Pack
simplysweetlyblessed1Thank you! We have gratitude journals and planner inserts to help you get started.
Abby
It’s easy to wallow for ages and not see your way out. Thanks for sharing this message.
Mamie L. Pack
AbbyI agree Abby! Thank for reading.
Dr Surabhi
So true. Gratitude is so important and is a key to spiritual development. Thank u fir the post
Mamie L. Pack
Dr SurabhiGratitude helps us have a positive perspective.
Rella
This message is so powerful and necessary
Mamie L. Pack
RellaThanks for reading.