Tapsearch Com EditorLove and Hate - Desire and Adversion
Link: therationale.com
By Ray Tapajna continuing the study of Personality and Character for the sake of self-improvement. Based on our notes from Father McQuade's JCU outline.In our last post we explored the effects of love and hate. We continue now talking about desire and adversion. They are related to bodily reactions and there is a difference between desire that is merely felt and desire that has approval of the higher will. With adeversion, there is a difference too between that which is merely experienced and adversion that is recognized and consented to. It is the rejection of that higher will or choice that affects character as we noted in our past study of the power of the will. An important part in character building , we must exercise the indirect control we have over them to the utmost. It is possible to make good progress in long and patient practices through acquired reflexes. This way , we can gradually bring ourselves to desire the true rather than the apparent good and to abhor ther real rather than seeming evil.
We can cultivate the habit of investigating the foundations of our desire and adversions. For example, one who finds they are focusing on goals for esteem of others instead of self esteem, this would tend someone habitually boast about themselves. A person can tame that desire by showing himself that he is overestimating the value of the approval of others.
Prejudices can be studied this way too. If we have an adversion towards someone of another race, we can examine the evidence upon we base that adversion and in most cases will find the evidence does not back up our adversion. Prejudices can be managed by our intellect. They still may be hidden inside us but our intellect can lead us past this void.
This is why in the spritual life, much emphasis is put upon mental and meditative prayer, where fruitful desires and effective aversions are developed. The internal goodness in us rises to the surfaces as we consider the things of a good God in our lives. The objective is to control emotions without eliminating them.
In the next post, we will explore the emotions of joy and grief related to love and hate.
