In the Catholic Times Light of the World, the priest columnist gives us his thoughts on the need to control our thinking and desires if we want to see the transformation of our faith life.
Many in our society are taking medicine because of insomnia due to work stress. A lot suffer from panic disorder, depression, and various other disorders. Many find it difficult to enjoy life and overcome the daily difficulties they face.
Are you taking care of your mind? It's a part we often miss in our busy lives, isn't it? It is said that if you take good care of your mind, you'll find peace. That's why St. Ignatius of Loyola said, "If the mind is changed, the world changes through us." On the other hand, we can't always control our minds, so we fall into severe emotional ups and downs and negative perceptions, and end up discouraged and frustrated.
Many of the mental illnesses suffered by many in society have various causes, both internal and external, but in the end, it is said that they are caused by the inability to control the mind and desires well.
We have numerous expressions of pessimism about life due to despair and stress, such as: 'My life is ruined' and 'N-Po generation'. [ the expression used nowadays by the young on the number of things they have to give up, more than can be numbered].
He wonders how much effort is expended to manage our minds and whether we have given up on them. This is certainly the dark side of the present age, where people get tired easily in a society where competition is excessive and are unhappy because of comparisons with others.
The essence of unhappiness, for the writer, is comparison and greed. There are many negative indicators in Korean society— Suicide rates, depression, social conflicts, working hours, and even high alcohol consumption (3rd in the world). At the same time, it is also a self-portrait of our inability to control our minds. Warnings about materialism have been repeatedly heard. The essence of the situation is that despite a high income, one is not happy, and material things have become one's primary purpose in life. Not introspection, but constant possessiveness and comparison are affecting our lives.
Richard Easterlin's words are heard often: "a lot of income makes you happy to a certain extent, but above a certain level, income and happiness are not proportional" (Theory of Intellectual Happiness). In fact, comparisons makes us forget about satisfaction, and if we do not control our endless greed, happiness and a healthy personality disappear.
How to care for the Christian's mind and heart? It is difficult to suggest that neighbors who are pushed to the extremes of life just reflect on their hearts. Therefore, social interest in people's livelihood and institutional alternatives are urgently needed. But even so, taking care of your mind is very important. And the measure is the gospel and faith. To be happy the most important thing necessary, rich or poor, is to control our hearts and minds with the gospel and faith and resist temptations that draw us away from God.
"If a night moth were to direct its will to a star or something like that, it would be impossible. But moths don't do that. A moth seeks only that which has meaning and value to it, what it needs and what it must have." (Hermann Hesse, from Damien)
