10 Ways to Live a Miserable Life
More times than I care to admit, my name has been listed next to each point written below. (Ouch!) Hmm, I guess that’s why I’ve had many moments of depression throughout my life!
The list below is some things I’ve been teaching my sons to avoid (and it’s a great reminder for me and my husband), about how ‘not’ to do life.
10 Ways to Live a Miserable Life
1. Focus on the negative. Whine and complain about everything and everyone all the time.
2. Be ungrateful and unappreciated of the relationships, health, and possessions you do have.
3. Constantly criticize others.
4. Expect others to serve you.
5. Be concerned with only yourself and talk about only yourself.
6. Hold others to a higher standard than what you hold yourself to.
7. Expect others to reach out to you first.
8. Have a martyr complex.
9. Blame others and hold a grudge.
10. Expect God to owe you something.
A self-centered life will not lead to living an abundant life, it will just lead to a miserable life.
All of these actions and attitudes are so easy to succumb to because our flesh will naturally default to them. It’s a wise woman who recognizes these ways do not lead to a flourishing life but rather a rotten one.
Laying aside my flesh is hard. And developing Godly virtues are hard. But the effects of living a miserable life is not how I want to be characterized as a woman since a self-centered lifestyle is not pleasing to the Lord. Plus, I don’t want to leave this kind of legacy to my children because they’ll most likely end up emulating me.
Choosing to surrender my self-centered ways is the path that I want to embrace as hard as it might be, therefore I need to dwell on the things that bring life to my soul so God can transform my heart and make it more like His.
By embracing an others-minded mentality and choosing to have a joyful attitude, my life (and yours) will change for the better and so will our relationships! Now, I don’t know about you, but I’d like to have a thriving life and thriving relationships!
Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Phil. 2:4,5
Are you in a place of discouragement today? Do you feel miserable?
If so, dwell on this, my friend…
Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! Psalm 103:2-5
Live a poured out life for Christ,
This was a very powerful post for me. I have been struggling with my life in general lately and find that I am guilty of most of these.This made me realize that I really do need to work at being more selfless.
Thank you
Glad to hear it helped you, Jennifer. Perspective is key!
Hi Jolene,
This really resignated in me today. I am all of the above it seems. And my husband just resently said to focus on the positive and all the things God has give us. I believe that and know that is true, but I feel that it’s so hard when everything seems to be not going well. Being broke, having really no friends where we moved to after a year, feeling so worn out being home with two kids and feeling that I do so much with no time for me. I dont have any elderly women in my life for support and its a struggle to focus my time on my relationship with God. Any advice for a stay at home mom with a lifeless relationship with God.
Pursue God, friend. If that means you eat a hot dog for dinner because you don’t have time to make a healthy meal, then so be it. Pursue God before all of your laundry and home are in order. Pursue God before your kids and husband have everything you and they think they need from you. Pursue God so your soul can thrive. Choose to be more like Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet rather than like her sister Martha who was distracted and busy. When your relationship with Christ begins to thrive you’ll have more joy. Seek ways to serve Him with your spiritual gifts. Find something to do that you enjoy (and don’t feel guilty about it!) We, as busy wives and moms, need to take care of our own spiritual well-being so we won’t go through life with a downcast spirit. I hope this helps!
Thank you, I just pray that the Holy Spirit will melt each word into my heart to grow a healthy fruit!! God bless you and your family!
Very powerful wisdom here, Jolene. Thanks for giving me something good to think and pray about today, friend. I know I’ve been guilty of many of the things you mentioned.