Help me adjust my attitude

[JackVk]

Things have been pretty rough with my personality lately. Last week, school started on the same day I got ticketed for running a stop sign, so that’s a bad start. I go to a secular community college, and the other day my US History professor went on an anti-Catholic rant about the Inquisition and the Crusades, which had my gears grinding for the rest of the day. This weekend and today, I’ve just felt lazy and unmotivated, and have been cutting corners on my homework.

All the while, people seem ignorant and stupid to me. I feel very grouchy, judgmental, unloving, and un-Christian, and I don’t know what to do. Finally, I’ve been having sexually explicit dreams, even though I don’t seem to be struggling with arousal or temptation. That seems completely out of the blue. Advice?

 

[spencer2]

Sounds like Satan is at full force with you. Fight back with prayer, works of mercy and humility.

 

[JackVk]

Sounds like Satan is at full force with you. Fight back with prayer, works of mercy and humility.

I’ve been trying to do that. I go to Mass and pray the Rosary every day. I help out at a high school youth group, and I gave blood yesterday. I know there’s something in The Screwtape Letters about being proud of one’s own humility. By the same token, humility is not self-loathing. It wouldn’t be humble if I were to tell myself that I suck at everything, even when it’s not so.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

JackVk

Things have been pretty rough with my personality lately. Last week, school started on the same day I got ticketed for running a stop sign, so that’s a bad start. I go to a secular community college, and the other day my US History professor went on an anti-Catholic rant about the Inquisition and the Crusades, which had my gears grinding for the rest of the day.

Was it an anti-Catholic rant, or was he presenting history in which the Church wasn’t so clean, that upset you?

Accepting the dirty parts of Catholic History as being true, will only help you in your spiritual growth.

Fighting against it, will stunt you. Follow Pope John Paul II’s example. I learned this, but not until I made the mistake of trying to defend the Church even when the truth was presented and indefensible.

This weekend and today, I’ve just felt lazy and unmotivated, and have been cutting corners on my homework.

Check your diet. Sugar by way of soda, snacks and such will do this. Also, force yourself to get some exercise and if possible, do it out of doors.

All the while, people seem ignorant and stupid to me. I feel very grouchy, judgmental, unloving, and un-Christian, and I don’t know what to do.

Bad diet and lack of exercise can do this. High levels of glucouse in the blood can make you irritable as your brain is not being fed properly, you feel tired. Tiredness is conducive to irritability.

Finally, I’ve been having sexually explicit dreams, even though I don’t seem to be struggling with arousal or temptation. That seems completely out of the blue. Advice

Feed your mind during the day with good things, and you’ll dream good things.

In all, pray, pray, pray.

Jim

 

[Edward_H]

Jack, you sound like you have good formation and great intent.

I know the feeling…like satan setting you up with a complex ambush. Some times maintaining a close presence of God can help…the rosary in the morning, visit to the Blessed Sacrament in the afternoon. Morning offering…evening exam.

Spread load your approaches and recognition of God over the day.

Sometimes I use “aspirations” in the middle of things…small challenges and contradictions of life. “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner” “Stay with me Lord” “Here I am Lord, I have come to do your will”. etc.

And finally sometimes it’s helpful to willfully beg God to convert your suffering, your contradiction into a prayer, a miracle for someone else somewhere on the planet. "Lord, make their day easier; I can carry this little splinter of your Cross.

Place God in that classroom…He wants union with you, remember…and talk with Him as you suffer some professor.

 

[JackVk]

Things are starting to look up already! I was praying for a long time yesterday, and have started to write down prayers in a journal. Last night, my dreams were not impure; I dreamt that I hugged Mary! . It was just the kick I needed to get myself going. This morning, I got up at 5 and went to adoration a half-hour earlier (I spend time at the Blessed Sacrament either right before or after daily Mass). I thanked God for the encouragement; now I feel secure that God is with me.

 

[Crumpy]

I’m glad to hear you feel better.

We are surrounded by things that assault our spirituality. We are often surrounded by people whose agenda seems to be pure hedonism, the pursuit of pleasure in any form, especially as an escape from something.

I have numerous temptations, especially things that push me into anger. I find myself getting too angry, especially about politicians lying to taxpayers. And, here, I’m referring just the the local politicians in my town.

It takes a lot of spiritual growth, I suppose, to develop the serenity to avoid getting angry about everything. I think even writing this post helps me to realize that those temptations distract me from taking care of myself as I ought.

I think that the world was just as hectic and crazy in Jesus’ time as it is in our own. He had to get away from the crowds, once in a while, too.