Self-Abandonment vs Self-Denial

About this episode

The episode discusses the concepts of self-abandonment and self-denial in relation to healing a damaged sense of self.

Today’s podcast answers a question from someone who has come to realize their sense of self is damaged. This part of the healing work is often overlooked due to it being so close or detouring it due to us being nervous about the concept of “self”. If we have a damaged sense of self, it means we believe that we are unlovable, not worthy of love, and simply not good enough. This can predispose us to looking to external sources for validation, which can endanger us spirituality and set us up for more grief and shame. Self-abandonment leads us further away from God, self-denial brings us closer to God.

People in this episode

Host: Fr. Joshua Makoul

Topics covered

• self-abandonment
• self-denial
• healing
• sense of self
• spirituality
• validation
• God

Keywords

• self-abandonment
• self-denial
• healing
• spirituality
• validation
• self-worth
• love
• grief
• shame

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• Where we Begin and Leave off: Awareness of Spiritual Boundaries · May 30, 2026
• A Most Beautiful Inheritance: Simple Grief · May 23, 2026
• The Courage to Try Again · May 9, 2026
• Humility and Healing: A Beautiful Synergy · May 2, 2026