The Five Sicknesses of the Human Soul
Most of Life's ills are rooted in them.
“We ache with the yearning
that turns half into whole
and offer no excuses
for the beauty of our souls.”
― Aberjhani
The human soul knows sickness.
Five loom largest. Marcus Aurelius revealed them long ago in his Meditations. Take heed. Remain vigilant. For what ravages the soul weakens mind and body.
A soul detaches from the world.
A soul degrades itself when anger leads to prolonged withdrawal. A soul lacking communion with others is starved of the very essence it needs to shine. And other souls are lesser for its absence.
A soul forsakes and wishes harm.
One soul turning its back on another breeds resentment and distrust. This sickness spreads among other souls like a cancer... a cold shadow eclipsing the world.
A soul is ruled by pleasure or pain.
A soul lost in the heights of pleasure or the depths of pain is one bereft of reason. Meaning and purpose are beyond reach and long forgotten. A growing discord disrupts natural order and attracts the existential void.
A soul wears the mask of another.
A mask obscures what is priceless with a cheap imitation of what is expected. But what remains hidden can never be known. It will never grow and flourish. It will never be remembered.
A soul acts without purpose.
Action without purpose operates contrary to meaning. The pull of regret grows stronger with each moment lacking in purpose. And the longer a life labors on in conflict with meaning, the quicker it devolves toward death.
You have a purpose rooted in meaning. Your Life’s work is to discover it and then to realize it. Guard against all diversions from this purpose, for they lead to a sickness of the soul. This sickness is unnatural and therefore a betrayal of Nature.
🤔 Food for Thought:
Is your soul actively engaged or withdrawn?
Is your soul sparked by kindness or anger?
Is your soul ruled by reason or base instincts?
Is your soul proudly displayed or masked?
Is your soul acting with purpose or counter to it?
⚙️ One Small Step:
If you suffer from any of these ills, apply the healing ointment of meaning. If you are still in search of it, simply look for happiness and fulfillment in everyday things. They will light the path to deeper meaning.