Achieving Happiness: Advice from Augustine
Yesterday I posted a personality test that identified if we are suited to an Ignatian, Augustinian, Franciscan or Thomistic style of prayer.
Strangely, the vast majority of respondents on Twitter and elsewhere, were categorised as Augustinian. Not entirely sure of the reason for this, however, in view of this, it seems fitting to post a little something from Psychology Today reflecting on Augustine and happiness:
Our fundamental problem, according to Augustine, has to do with love. Our problem is misplaced loves. We love the wrong things, or we love the right things in the wrong way. For example, we wrongly love power, fame, wealth, appearance, and many other things that are unworthy of our love. We also love things that are worthy of love, such as other individuals, but if we do this in an excessive manner, putting others into a place reserved for God, we make a serious mistake and undermine our own happiness.
If we love God first and foremost, believes Augustine, this will work itself out in our lives as all of our other loves will become properly ordered. We will still love others, the creation, and other good things in life, but in the right way and to the right extent. So, for those who share Augustine’s belief in God, he would say that in order to be truly happy we need properly ordered loves, which we can only achieve as we embrace the spiritual life in deeper ways.
Tags: Christian Life