--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Feeling sorry for ourselves is the most…" description: "\"Feeling sorry for ourselves is the most useless waste of energy on the planet. It does absolutely no good. We can't let our circumstances or what other..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/joyce-meyer-123_circumstances_feeling-sorry-for-ourselves-is-the-most_51347.jpg" --- # Feeling sorry for ourselves is the most useless waste of… ![“Feeling sorry for ourselves is the most useless waste of energy on the planet. It does absolutely no good. We can't let our circumstances or what others do or don't do control us. We can decide to be happy regardless.” quote by Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/joyce-meyer-123_circumstances_feeling-sorry-for-ourselves-is-the-most_51347.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/joyce-meyer-123_circumstances_feeling-sorry-for-ourselves-is-the-most_51347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/joyce-meyer-123_circumstances_feeling-sorry-for-ourselves-is-the-most_51347.jpg) > “Feeling sorry for ourselves is the most useless waste of energy on the planet. It does absolutely no good. We can't let our circumstances or what others do or don't do control us. We can decide to be happy regardless.” [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-pity drains personal power; choosing happiness despite external conditions preserves agency and purpose. **In simple terms:** Choosing joy over self‑pity. Key Takeaway Self‑pity wastes energy. Themes self‑empowerment emotional resilience personal responsibility mindset happiness Mood determined optimistic defiant Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - after a setback - during criticism - when facing injustice - in daily routine Key Concepts energy allocation control vs. circumstance internal locus of control Practical Applications - motivational coaching - wellness workshops Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑pity limit your actions? - What steps can you take to shift from victimhood to agency? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Feeling sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-sorry/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) ## Related quotes > [Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy but the worst habit you could possibly have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/feeling-sorry-for-yourself-and-your-present-condition-is-not-only-a/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Worry is a waste of energy. It cant change the past. It cant control the future. It only makes today miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/worry-is-a-waste-of-energy-it-cant-change-the-past-it-cant-control/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“Regret is an appalling waste of energy. You can’t build on it. It is only for wallowing in. —KATHERINE MANSFIELD”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-w-hickman/regret-is-an-appalling-waste-of-energy-you-can-t-build-on-it-it-is/) Martha W. Hickman > [I have always believed that when you're feeling sorry for yourself, the best thing to do is help someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/i-have-always-believed-that-when-you-re-feeling-sorry-for-yourself/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [“Feeling sorry for yourself is a universal solvent of salvation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/feeling-sorry-for-yourself-is-a-universal-solvent-of-salvation/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [Hippies generally aren't busy with anything except feeling sorry for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/hippies-generally-aren-t-busy-with-anything-except-feeling-sorry-for/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [My pulse whooshed in my ears so fast I could barely hear myself speak. “I only have—” “Two days.” He squeezed my hand. “So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/my-pulse-whooshed-in-my-ears-so-fast-i-could-barely-hear-myself-speak/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [There's no room in my life for feeling sorry for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-newton/there-s-no-room-in-my-life-for-feeling-sorry-for-myself/) [Wayne Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-newton/) > [I'm not running around as a continual ray of sunshine. It's just I don't believe in wasting time feeling sorry for myself. Get over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-mullins/i-m-not-running-around-as-a-continual-ray-of-sunshine-it-s-just-i-don/) [Aimee Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-mullins/) > [I don't believe in anybody feeling sorry for himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-havlicek/i-don-t-believe-in-anybody-feeling-sorry-for-himself/) [John Havlicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-havlicek/) > [Compassion and pity are not the same: pity is looking down on someone, feeling sorry for them and offering nothing; compassion is seeing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasinda-wilder/compassion-and-pity-are-not-the-same-pity-is-looking-down-on-someone/) [Jasinda Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasinda-wilder/) > [“It is not wrong to feel sorry for yourself. Just like it is not wrong to sit in a puddle of water while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/it-is-not-wrong-to-feel-sorry-for-yourself-just-like-it-is-not-wrong/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Avant-garde means never having to say you're sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ribot/avant-garde-means-never-having-to-say-you-re-sorry/) [Marc Ribot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ribot/) > [Sports are basically our way of feeling sorry for ourselves. Most men can't become athletes. We're watching guys who actually made it. We see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/sports-are-basically-our-way-of-feeling-sorry-for-ourselves-most-men/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [“We just find out that sometimes we fight for insignificant stuff...why waste energy trying to convince others they're wrong, if they won't get it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/den-sjo/we-just-find-out-that-sometimes-we-fight-for-insignificant-stuff-why/) [Den Sjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/den-sjo/) ## More by Joyce Meyer > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [God doesn't love me any more or less because I had some work done on my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/god-doesn-t-love-me-any-more-or-less-because-i-had-some-work-done-on/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I encourage you to be a person who is not afraid of responsibility. In meeting resistance you will build your strength. If you only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-encourage-you-to-be-a-person-who-is-not-afraid-of-responsibility-in/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Have God make a message out of your mess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/have-god-make-a-message-out-of-your-mess/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Forgiveness is not a feeling - it's a decision we make because we want to do what's right before God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/forgiveness-is-not-a-feeling-it-s-a-decision-we-make-because-we-want/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [The Bible says that Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. On the job, in the grocery store,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/the-bible-says-that-christians-are-the-salt-of-the-earth-and-the/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Addictions - Run to Jesus instead of running to your addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/addictions-run-to-jesus-instead-of-running-to-your-addiction/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Don't miss out on today by living in yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/don-t-miss-out-on-today-by-living-in-yesterday/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I never get tired of hearing the great testimonies of people whom God has touched. I pray that the changes God has done in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-never-get-tired-of-hearing-the-great-testimonies-of-people-whom-god/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Early on in my life, I had a broken soul. I was abused by my father, abandoned by my mother and ended up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/early-on-in-my-life-i-had-a-broken-soul-i-was-abused-by-my-father/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [frustration, complication and misery are available in abundance, but so is God's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/frustration-complication-and-misery-are-available-in-abundance-but-so/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [There is no power shortage in heaven, and God is never in a recession. But His grace is sufficient to meet every need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-is-no-power-shortage-in-heaven-and-god-is-never-in-a-recession/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Stop being tomented by everyone else's reaction to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/stop-being-tomented-by-everyone-else-s-reaction-to-you/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“… about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God…. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/about-midnight-as-paul-and-silas-were-praying-and-singing-hymns-of/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“As a Spirit-filled believer, you need to take the initiative to treat people the way you want to be treated, not the way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/as-a-spirit-filled-believer-you-need-to-take-the-initiative-to-treat/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) [Explore all 1,221 Joyce Meyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Feeling sorry for ourselves is the most useless waste of energy on the planet. It does absolutely no good. We can't let our circumstances or what others do or don't do control us. 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