B
backtoyesterday
Guest
Hello everyone. I am a 23 year old Catholic man struggling with a cycle of control and loss of it. I doubt that my experience is completely unique, but I have been dealing with it for years now, and am hoping to get some advice for breaking the cycle.
What I mean by control is mastery over my passions, a solid daily routine, healthy eating habits, a good exercise regimen and sleep schedule, and, of course, a consistent prayer life.
This period of time usually lasts somewhere between 1-2 weeks. Then, something sets my life off-balance and the entire thing crumbles like a deck of cards. In the past, things like Final Exams would cause this to happen, but today, even so much as a vacation or late night out with friends can jeopardize everything. It is a sort of ripple effect that happens very quickly. A late night leads to waking up late, which messes up my prayer routine, perhaps my eating habits, my exercise routine, etc. Within a day or two, I have lost all motivation, and become a slave to my most base of passions. I eat more than I should, I get lazy, I become lustful, etc. Sometimes it is something noticeable that derails me, but sometimes I just grow weary, my passions start burning, and I fall apart in all respects–never just one.
Within a few days, my passions have become jaded, I become disgusted with myself, and I resolve to change my life. I go to confession, I start eating healthy, and promise myself that this time will be different. It never is.
My usual prayers include Morning Prayer and Night Prayer from the Divine Offices, sometimes Evening Prayer as well, and Daily Mass about 3 times a week on average. None of these practices have helped me to break the cycle of sin, and I just feel like a slave to my passions. Any advice would be helpful. God bless.
What I mean by control is mastery over my passions, a solid daily routine, healthy eating habits, a good exercise regimen and sleep schedule, and, of course, a consistent prayer life.
This period of time usually lasts somewhere between 1-2 weeks. Then, something sets my life off-balance and the entire thing crumbles like a deck of cards. In the past, things like Final Exams would cause this to happen, but today, even so much as a vacation or late night out with friends can jeopardize everything. It is a sort of ripple effect that happens very quickly. A late night leads to waking up late, which messes up my prayer routine, perhaps my eating habits, my exercise routine, etc. Within a day or two, I have lost all motivation, and become a slave to my most base of passions. I eat more than I should, I get lazy, I become lustful, etc. Sometimes it is something noticeable that derails me, but sometimes I just grow weary, my passions start burning, and I fall apart in all respects–never just one.
Within a few days, my passions have become jaded, I become disgusted with myself, and I resolve to change my life. I go to confession, I start eating healthy, and promise myself that this time will be different. It never is.
My usual prayers include Morning Prayer and Night Prayer from the Divine Offices, sometimes Evening Prayer as well, and Daily Mass about 3 times a week on average. None of these practices have helped me to break the cycle of sin, and I just feel like a slave to my passions. Any advice would be helpful. God bless.
I think that this is very pertinent to the problem of not being able to persevere with one’s good intentions, as described by the OP.