Last Updated on February 14, 2023 by Christin
Getting caught up in self-pity? We all do it at various times in our lives. Feeling sorry for yourself is natural, but it can also be counterproductive. If you wallow in self-pity, youโll find it difficult to take any action to improve your situation because self-pity makes you feel bad and unmotivated. Itโs a vicious cycle that can trap you in a negative mindset and life.
But there is good news: You can break free from the cycle of self-pity by using affirmations. These statements will help you to focus on your strengths and remind you that you have the power to change your life for the better.
14 Affirmations To Use When You’re Feeling Sorry For Yourself
1. I Quickly Stop Myself From Going Down A Hole Of Misery
When you start to feel self-pity, itโs easy to get caught up in a spiral of negative thinking that takes you down a deep, dark hole.ย But you can stop the spiral by reminding yourself that you are in control of your thoughts.
Use this affirmation to keep your focus on the present moment and avoid getting pulled into a rabbit hole of misery.
One key step to avoid going down that hole is to focus on what you can control. Instead of obsessing over the things that you can’t change, redirect your energy towards making positive changes in your life.
Another important step is to practice gratitude. When we express gratitude, we shift our focus from our problems to the good things in our lives. This helps us to appreciate what we have, rather than focusing on lack.
2. I Question My Negative Perspectives
Part of feeling sorry for yourself is dwelling on negative perspectives. But you can start to change your thinking by questioning these perspectives.
Why do you believe that things are as bad as you think they are?
Is everything you’re thinking true?
Are you exaggerating or catastrophizing things?
Are there other ways to look at the situation?
When you question your negative perspectives, you open yourself up to new possibilities and a more positive outlook.
3. I Donโt Let My Past Define My Thinking
We feel sorry for ourselves because of what’s happened to us and where we are in life. It all boils down to our past.
But your past does not have to define your present or future.
This affirmation is a reminder that you are in control of your life and can choose how you want to live right now.
No matter what has happened in the past, you can move forward with confidence and hope because amazing things can be around the corner.
4. I Am More Than My Mistakes
We all make mistakes, but that doesnโt mean we are our mistakes! Never define yourself as a mistake. That’s a sure-fire way to fall to feel sorry for yourself for the rest of your life.
This affirmation is a reminder that you are not defined by your mistakes or failures. You are so much more than that.
In fact, if you can learn from your mistakes, life takes on a much more optimistic tone. You start to grow and see your potential and you accumulate lessons and strategies in life.
In short, mistakes happen, but you are not defined by them. You grow from them if you can take the lessons and move on.
5. I Challenge Myself To Do Great Things When Bad Things Happen
Bad things happen to everyone, but itโs how you respond that matters.
This affirmation challenges you to do great things even when life gets tough. Itโs a reminder that you have the strength and resilience to overcome anything that comes your way.
Try challenging yourself to do something amazing when something bad happens. For instance, if you lose your job, challenge yourself to get a better job that makes you much happier than your old job.
6. I Let Go Of What I Canโt Control
One of the main reasons why people feel sorry for themselves is because they dwell on things that they canโt control. This leads to frustration and anxiety and more self-pity.
You simply cannot control the things that are out of your control. So stop thinking that you can or could have!
This affirmation is a reminder to let go of what you canโt control and focus on what you can. When you do, youโll find that you feel more empowered and in control of your life.
7. I Donโt Compare Myself To Others
Comparison will steal all of your happiness and increase your self-pity exponentially.
When you compare yourself to others, you will always find someone who seems to have it better than you. But this comparison is unfair and unrealistic as you don’t know the whole story about their lives, and you are not on the same path as them in life.
This affirmation is a reminder to focus on your own life and journey, not someone elseโs.
8. I Am Grateful For What I Have
When youโre feeling sorry for yourself, itโs easy to forget about all the good things in your life. But gratitude is a powerful antidote to self-pity. This affirmation is a reminder to focus on what youโre grateful for, no matter how small. When you do, youโll find that your self-pity starts to dissipate.
9. I Deserve Happiness And Success
When you wallow in self-pity, you will never find the happiness and success you are looking for.
You deserve happiness and success just as much as anyone else does. This affirmation is a reminder of your worth. Itโs a powerful statement that can help you to start believing in yourself and your ability to achieve your goals and keep you from doing things – such as focusing on self-pity – that keeps you from them.
10. I Am Capable Of Great Things
This is a reminder of your potential and power. No matter what youโre going through, remember that you are capable of great things. There are things that you will accomplish in your life that will amaze your current self.
This affirmation can help to shift your focus from self-pity to possibility. When you start believing in yourself, anything becomes possible.
11. Awesome Things Are Around The Corner
This affirmation is a reminder that good things are on the horizon. No matter how dark and difficult things might seem right now, know that better days are ahead.
Miracles happen and life can shift very quickly. This affirmation can help to give you hope and keep you moving forward.
12. I Focus On Being Optimistic
An optimistic outlook is one of the best shields against self-pity. When you start to see the good in every situation and develop a sense of hope, it becomes difficult to feel sorry for yourself.
This affirmation is a reminder to focus on being optimistic, no matter what life throws your way.
13. I Breathe In Peace And Exhale Self-Pity
This is a reminder that you always have the power to choose how you want to react to any given situation. And one of the best ways to calm down and get out of a mindset is to breathe deeply and intentionally.
When you start to feel sorry for yourself, take a deep breath and let it go. Breathe deeply, to the core of your stomach, and imagine yourself breathing in peace. Then exhale all that yucky self-pity.
You will find that tension will release, and negative thoughts will start to dissipate when you do this.
14. I Do Things To Build Up My Self-Esteem
If you want to stop self-pity, focus on building up your self-esteem.
You can build up your self-esteem in a number of ways. You can:
1. Surround yourself with positive people. Spend time with friends and family who keep you out of self-pity. And avoid negative influences that bring you down.
2. Set practical goals for yourself that make you feel hopeful for the future. Seeing yourself achieve small successes will help boost your confidence.
3. Take care of yourself. Eat good food, exercise, and get enough sleep.
4. Focus on your good qualities and what makes you proud of yourself. And, focus on building up the qualities that you want to want to build up.
5. Do something that makes you happy every day, even if it’s something small like reading a good book or taking a walk in the park. When you take care of yourself and do things that make you happy, it shows in your attitude and others will respond positively to that as well.
