--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I understand how hard life can be, but in…" description: "\"I understand how hard life can be, but in order for things to change you have to stop feeling sorry for yourself, and do something about it.\" — Sonya P..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/sonya-parker-80_feeling-sorry_i-understand-how-hard-life-can-be-but-in_2252153.jpg" --- # I understand how hard life can be, but in order for things… ![“I understand how hard life can be, but in order for things to change you have to stop feeling sorry for yourself, and do something about it.” quote by Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/sonya-parker-80_feeling-sorry_i-understand-how-hard-life-can-be-but-in_2252153.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/sonya-parker-80_feeling-sorry_i-understand-how-hard-life-can-be-but-in_2252153.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/sonya-parker-80_feeling-sorry_i-understand-how-hard-life-can-be-but-in_2252153.jpg) > “I understand how hard life can be, but in order for things to change you have to stop feeling sorry for yourself, and do something about it.” [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) ## 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 stalls progress; taking action breaks the cycle. **In simple terms:** Stop feeling sorry, act. Key Takeaway Replace self‑pity with purposeful action. Themes motivation self‑improvement action Mood encouraging practical Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal loss - health challenges - relationship issues Key Concepts behavioral change mindset Questions to Reflect On - What first step will you take? - How can you sustain momentum? A Different Perspective Self‑pity may resurface without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Feeling sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-sorry/) [Feeling sorry for yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-sorry-for-yourself/) [Hard life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Stop Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-feeling/) [Stop feeling sorry for yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-feeling-sorry-for-yourself/) [Things change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-change/) ## Related quotes > [You are what you believe. So stop feeling sorry for yourself, and get up and do something about your problems! Find friends who care,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blue-eyes/you-are-what-you-believe-so-stop-feeling-sorry-for-yourself-and-get/) [Blue Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blue-eyes/) > [“Stop Feeling Sorry For Yourself".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behnam-rajabpoor/stop-feeling-sorry-for-yourself/) [Behnam Rajabpoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behnam-rajabpoor/) > [If you are able to stop feeling sorry for yourself, and to contribute to the betterment of this world and of those around us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-are-able-to-stop-feeling-sorry-for-yourself-and-to-contribute/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Stop feeling sorry for yourself and you will be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/stop-feeling-sorry-for-yourself-and-you-will-be-happy/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [If there's something I've learned about life, is that it goes on..with or without you. 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Now you stop feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/let-me-tell-you-something-my-wife-died-for-tuesdays-ago-cancer-of-the/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [I almost once wanted to publish a self help book saying, 'How To Be Happy, by Stephen Fry: Guaranteed Success'. And people buy this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-almost-once-wanted-to-publish-a-self-help-book-saying-how-to-be/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“Certainly the most destructive vice if you like, that a person can have. More than pride, which is supposedly the number one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/certainly-the-most-destructive-vice-if-you-like-that-a-person-can/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“I don’t understand hospital chaplains that try to rob my patients of their anger. Sometimes anger is a key motivator that gets people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/i-don-t-understand-hospital-chaplains-that-try-to-rob-my-patients-of/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Self-pity is the bestiality of emotions: it absolutely disgusts people. When you're feeling pity for yourself, and somebody says to you 'You think maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/self-pity-is-the-bestiality-of-emotions-it-absolutely-disgusts-people/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) ## More by Sonya Parker > [If someone leaves you because of a flaw or small problem they're immature, and they are definitely wrong for you. So, good riddance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-someone-leaves-you-because-of-a-flaw-or-small-problem-they-re/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [If holding onto them requires you to lower your self-worth and self-respect let go of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-holding-onto-them-requires-you-to-lower-your-self-worth-and-self/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I still care about you, but youve lost my trust, youve lost my respect and youve lost me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/i-still-care-about-you-but-youve-lost-my-trust-youve-lost-my-respect/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Everyone has dreams, but everyone isn't willing to fight for their dreams to come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/everyone-has-dreams-but-everyone-isn-t-willing-to-fight-for-their/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [A jerk will keep hurting you then apologize to keep you from leaving them, and then do it all over again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/a-jerk-will-keep-hurting-you-then-apologize-to-keep-you-from-leaving/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Just because you failed yesterday it doesn't mean that you can't succeed today or tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/just-because-you-failed-yesterday-it-doesn-t-mean-that-you-can-t/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Today isn't just another day off, it's a day to remember those who have sacrificed their life for your FREEDOM. Happy Memorial Day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/today-isn-t-just-another-day-off-it-s-a-day-to-remember-those-who/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Stop holding onto people that treat you like crap. They might be nice sometimes, but the rest of the time they disrespect you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/stop-holding-onto-people-that-treat-you-like-crap-they-might-be-nice/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Nice people hate saying 'no' to their friends and family, that's why they get used and taken advantage of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/nice-people-hate-saying-no-to-their-friends-and-family-that-s-why/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Most people don't reach their goals because reaching their goals requires them to do things that they don't want to do. You might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/most-people-don-t-reach-their-goals-because-reaching-their-goals/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Once a person turns cold it's hard to change back into who they used to be. They have to let go of the past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/once-a-person-turns-cold-it-s-hard-to-change-back-into-who-they-used/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [You're unhappy with your life because you give up when things don't happen fast enough for you. The bigger the goal the longer it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-re-unhappy-with-your-life-because-you-give-up-when-things-don-t/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Some people give up on everything just because they can't fix one thing. You might not be able to fix that, but you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/some-people-give-up-on-everything-just-because-they-can-t-fix-one/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I dont care how brokenhearted someone is if they wanted to be with you they would because the love they feel for you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/i-dont-care-how-brokenhearted-someone-is-if-they-wanted-to-be-with/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Love is when someone has the power to break your heart into a thousand pieces, but they make sure it stays in 1 piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/love-is-when-someone-has-the-power-to-break-your-heart-into-a/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) [Explore all 1,539 Sonya Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I understand how hard life can be, but in order for things to change you have to stop feeling sorry for yourself, and do something about it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sonya Parker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/i-understand-how-hard-life-can-be-but-in-order-for-things-to-change/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/i-understand-how-hard-life-can-be-but-in-order-for-things-to-change/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/sonya-parker-80_feeling-sorry_i-understand-how-hard-life-can-be-but-in_2252153.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/sonya-parker-80_feeling-sorry_i-understand-how-hard-life-can-be-but-in_2252153.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/sonya-parker-80_feeling-sorry_i-understand-how-hard-life-can-be-but-in_2252153.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I understand how hard life can be, but in order for things to change you have to stop feeling sorry for…” — Sonya Parker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sonya Parker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I understand how hard life can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/i-understand-how-hard-life-can-be-but-in-order-for-things-to-change/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/i-understand-how-hard-life-can-be-but-in-order-for-things-to-change/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```