Some years ago, when I was walking towards the central railway station of Amsterdam, I came along some (religious) sign making some statement about suffering in the world, when it daunted to me that a lot of suffering is the result of self-pitty.

It also helps me to realize that what we precieve as real is actually an illusion generated by our brain, which is the product of an evolutionary process, causing me to act to stay alive and increase my reproductive ability of myself and my offspring.