Chatting with my SD he shared that in his years of pastoring people he has found a shift in thinking. Previously, people used to be motivated by duty, but in recent times it is all about fulfilment. Going by the recent media furor over a former Olympian decathlete's very public gender transformation I would say that the search for fulfilment has broken a new record.
Fulfilment is good. God created each of us with specific talents and gifts, to walk down particular and unique paths toward self actualization. However, the service dimension in seeking fulfilment is often dismissed nowadays. We ignore the verity of Pope Paul VI's statement in Gaudium et Spes 24 that we can fully find our true selves only in the sincere gift of self.
Seeking one's bliss has instead taken on an inward-looking, masturbatory characteristic. The only definition of pleasure worth celebrating it would seem is to be voraciously hedonistic with no regard for how one derives pleasure or for setting limits on pleasure. Just look at the large number of infidelities and the proliferation of addictions in its myriad forms to confirm this.
The selfish pursuit of happiness leaves little consideration for others. And when obstacles to the path of happiness appear, they are perceived as insurmountable mountains and great energy is spent on either lamenting one's misfortunes at length, or circumventing them employing means more foul than fair.
This egocentricity has led to a people are either for me or against me but most of the time they are against me mentality. We have become self-absorbed, overly demanding, hypersensitive and martial in outlook.
We are the cǎoméi zú, Strawberry Generation, easily bruised and oh so high maintenance. We are not fervent in commitment, every ready to give up with we hit a road block or when ennui sets in. No wonder marriage is not the lifelong covenant it was when we are so fulfilment led that feelings, or the lack thereof, justify 'uncoupling'. It is even normative to defend self-serving extremes of behaviour as a right to freedom and receive the approbation of others under the guise of a horrifying politically correct tolerance.
Thank God Jesus was no strawberry or else we would be nose-deep in the muck. Thank Jesus for His sermon on the mount that gives us an alternative and radical way of living. Last Monday's reflection from Laudate encourages living out the beatitudes as the secrets to happiness:
choosing to be poor rather than rich (Mt 5:3),
sorrowing in repentance for our sins rather than feeling good (Mt 5:4),
becoming lowly rather than getting high (Mt 5:5),
hungering for holiness rather than getting what we want (Mt 5:6),
giving others a break rather than getting our rights (Mt 5:7),
having nothing but Jesus rather than having everything (see Mt 5:8),
dying for our enemies rather than killing them (see Mt 5:9), and,
being insulted, persecuted, and slandered because of Jesus rather than being popular (Mt 5:10-11).
Beatitudes are closer to Maslow's definition of self actualization and definitely not for the faint of heart, and yet, as Maslow found, one can look forward to being comfortable, secure and happy in one's own skin (no plastic surgery required), loving and living a fulfilling life, regardless of circumstance.
Looking back, I have been happiest in the years I acknowledged Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. There are certain 'worldly' things I forgo and miss intensely from time to time but I would not trade what I have now - peace of mind, direction and self-assurance - for the fleeting, gratuitous pleasures of my past.
Every possession I have had to let go of in order to follow Christ has been replaced by more than I ever envisaged. Initial tears have given way to deep joy and the certainty that I am loved and prized beyond my wildest dreams.
Secure and fulfilled by the Father's love, I cannot help but want to make Him happy. Follow Christ and His ways. Trust the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit. Live out the beatitudes and be a fool for Christ.
Being one of the duty driven people my SD spoke of, I can, at times, lose the joy and fall into the trap of judging others by my own standards. Here is where the words of Saint Ephrem resonate:
Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.
Fulfilment lies not in radical superficial change but in a radical change of heart that relies on the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews11:1).
Fulfilment is good. God created each of us with specific talents and gifts, to walk down particular and unique paths toward self actualization. However, the service dimension in seeking fulfilment is often dismissed nowadays. We ignore the verity of Pope Paul VI's statement in Gaudium et Spes 24 that we can fully find our true selves only in the sincere gift of self.
Seeking one's bliss has instead taken on an inward-looking, masturbatory characteristic. The only definition of pleasure worth celebrating it would seem is to be voraciously hedonistic with no regard for how one derives pleasure or for setting limits on pleasure. Just look at the large number of infidelities and the proliferation of addictions in its myriad forms to confirm this.
The selfish pursuit of happiness leaves little consideration for others. And when obstacles to the path of happiness appear, they are perceived as insurmountable mountains and great energy is spent on either lamenting one's misfortunes at length, or circumventing them employing means more foul than fair.
This egocentricity has led to a people are either for me or against me but most of the time they are against me mentality. We have become self-absorbed, overly demanding, hypersensitive and martial in outlook.
We are the cǎoméi zú, Strawberry Generation, easily bruised and oh so high maintenance. We are not fervent in commitment, every ready to give up with we hit a road block or when ennui sets in. No wonder marriage is not the lifelong covenant it was when we are so fulfilment led that feelings, or the lack thereof, justify 'uncoupling'. It is even normative to defend self-serving extremes of behaviour as a right to freedom and receive the approbation of others under the guise of a horrifying politically correct tolerance.
choosing to be poor rather than rich (Mt 5:3),
sorrowing in repentance for our sins rather than feeling good (Mt 5:4),
becoming lowly rather than getting high (Mt 5:5),
hungering for holiness rather than getting what we want (Mt 5:6),
giving others a break rather than getting our rights (Mt 5:7),
having nothing but Jesus rather than having everything (see Mt 5:8),
dying for our enemies rather than killing them (see Mt 5:9), and,
being insulted, persecuted, and slandered because of Jesus rather than being popular (Mt 5:10-11).
Beatitudes are closer to Maslow's definition of self actualization and definitely not for the faint of heart, and yet, as Maslow found, one can look forward to being comfortable, secure and happy in one's own skin (no plastic surgery required), loving and living a fulfilling life, regardless of circumstance.
Looking back, I have been happiest in the years I acknowledged Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. There are certain 'worldly' things I forgo and miss intensely from time to time but I would not trade what I have now - peace of mind, direction and self-assurance - for the fleeting, gratuitous pleasures of my past.
Every possession I have had to let go of in order to follow Christ has been replaced by more than I ever envisaged. Initial tears have given way to deep joy and the certainty that I am loved and prized beyond my wildest dreams.
Secure and fulfilled by the Father's love, I cannot help but want to make Him happy. Follow Christ and His ways. Trust the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit. Live out the beatitudes and be a fool for Christ.
Being one of the duty driven people my SD spoke of, I can, at times, lose the joy and fall into the trap of judging others by my own standards. Here is where the words of Saint Ephrem resonate:
Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.
Fulfilment lies not in radical superficial change but in a radical change of heart that relies on the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews11:1).
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