Look Up From Yourself, Look Out To Others

Life is difficult & that’s a reality. Difficult may be relative but either way, life’s hard and the struggle is real but, what’s our response to that reality? 

You have the permission to feel all that you want to feel when life’s difficulties hit you. You have the right to be upset, to feel angry, frustrated, sad, crushed, exhausted, grieved but you do not have the permission to feel sorry for yourself.

Why? Because, It’s not good for you or for anyone else. Self pity reduces everything to just ‘self’ to just ‘you’ 

‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me but weep for yourselves and for your children’... (Luke 23:28)

Jesus was hurt, felt grief in its raw form, was in pains emotionally and physically - in the face of the difficulty of the cross, of crucifixion, of death but he didn’t wallow in self pity. The soldier that his ear was cut off, the thief crucified beside him, the women of Jerusalem, the forgiveness of his crucifiers... - He was there for all of them 

He didn’t give up being there for people even in those very very difficult moments just because he was too preoccupied with his own wounds. Do not reduce everything to ‘self’. Do not reduce everything to just you.

Gratitude gets you out of self pity. There’s always a reason to be thankful. So, be thankful. Look up from yourself, look out to others. Even when it’s hard, especially when it’s hard.