Weariness leads to cynicism

When we are mean to ourselves, we become mean to others.

Have you ever become weary of living in this world? Weary of your relationships? Tiredness can easily slip into cynicism, something that becomes challenging to shake off. The downward spiral of doubt that something will change, or whether it is worthwhile trying is a legitimate feeling, yet, we believe it is one that can be overcome.

If you are world-weary, there’s a high chance that the people around you are feeling it. Being a cynic is typically triggered when one feels hurt, and instead of dealing with those emotions, they allow them to fester and skew their outlook. When we grow cynical toward one thing in our lives, it slowly starts to turn on everything like a virus.

A cynical person typically:

Indulges in self-righteous attitudes and forms expectations that people should behave a certain way.
Seeks out and focus on the worst in people
Makes one feel on edge, watching for mistakes
Turns on themselves and listens to their critical inner voice
Misses out on joys in life

This negativity can be contagious, bringing down those around us. It will lead us to alienate others, acting in a hostile manner, or become self-protective and isolated. Ultimately, it is always in our self-interest to be open and vulnerable rather than to be nasty or write people off. The only person we can control is ourselves. When we get cynical, we are the ones who suffer.

A couple on their road to recovery after a betrayal recently asked us, “When will it stop feeling like we’re working on our relationship every day so that we can return to simply enjoying each other?” Getting callous and toughened by an experience is a natural survival skill of protection. It results in being very guarded, unconvinced that they are doing their part, and determined. Two words begin to come up in most conversations: show me; prove it. When someone has been lied to, it takes time, effort, and change within the perpetrator to heal: Not just on a behavior level, but get healing for their heart so that their belief systems no longer associate lying and cheating with pleasure and escape.

If you're ready for enjoyment and laughter once again, we have some recommendations for anyone inflicted with cynicism. It's important to accept that we create the world we live in. When we cultivate compassion instead of turning cynical, we feel better. We feel closer to the people we care about and more fulfilled within ourselves. By being open and understanding, we relieve ourselves of our destructive attitudes, and we draw out the best in those around us.

As an individual:

Avoiding cynicism does not mean avoiding emotions. It is not about pretending and escaping the reality of your surroundings. Rather, it is about alleviating your suffering by dealing with emotions directly without letting them color the lens through which we view the world. It is important to acknowledge your emotions and to allow ourselves to feel them fully. Talking with God about your limitations, you can decide how you will take personal responsibility.

Get vulnerable: Be open and relieve yourself of toxic thinking and destructive attitudes.
Get alone with God and confess your limitations
Ask God how He feels about you
Receive compassion, and let God love you on your worst day
Cultivate compassion - that’s a gardening word. Plow the ground, plant seeds, and be kind to yourself and others.
Let go of your expectations of others and be merciful.