The 7 Deadly Vices and How to Overcome Them with 7 Virtues ...

By Neecey

The 7 Deadly Vices and How to Overcome Them with 7 Virtues ...

Although the roots are firmly in Christian ethics, vices and virtues have no religious boundaries. Also known as the 7 Deadly Sins, anyone can have a vice or commit a sin, just like anyone can display virtue (the polar opposite). Let’s remind ourselves of the 7 vices and the 7 virtues.

7 DEADLY VICES

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1

Lust

In a world where sex is free-flowing, lust is a hard vice to avoid. Lust is thoughts of a sexual nature that cause you to desire sex in any of its forms. Lust is fed by our desires and is spurred on by things we hear and see, such as sexually suggestive clothing, music that is sexually charged, and especially pornography. The problem with overactive lust, however, is it tends to engender the viewing of others as objects of sexual desire instead of people, and the repeated exposure to sexually graphic materials may cause people to become desensitized to tender acts of affection or cause unrealistic expectations when engaging in sex.

2

Greed

The desire for riches or things of a material nature is often the definition of greed, but greed can be so much more. Greed can also mean wanting more of people than they can or want to give us, and it can also mean putting a monetary value on everything, even things that can’t be bought or sold. If the greedy person is unsatisfied, they could resort to theft, manipulation, or worse. If money or the things money can buy become a greater priority than the precious things in life, like family and love, you may lose more than greed could ever gain.

UPD:

Greed is one of the seven deadly vices, and it is often seen as a negative trait. Greed can lead to a person wanting more than they can or should have, and it can lead to a person putting a monetary value on things that can't be bought or sold. Greed can also lead to people resorting to theft, manipulation, and other unethical behavior in order to get what they want. Greed can also lead to people neglecting their relationships, as money and material possessions become more important than family and love.

Fortunately, there are ways to overcome greed. Practicing self-reflection and mindfulness can help people become aware of their own behavior and the consequences of it. Practicing gratitude can also help people appreciate the things they have and be less focused on what they don’t have. Finally, setting boundaries and limits can help people from wanting more than they can or should have.

3

Envy

Envy is a form of jealousy, or the desire to have more or better goods than another person has. People who are envious need to feel that they are as good as or better than their neighbors and friends, often resorting to going into debt to keep up. Many of these goods aren’t necessary or even wanted sometimes, but they become a status symbol. Envy doesn’t make many friends, however, and neighbors and friends may view you as petty and shallow.

UPD:

Envy is a particularly dangerous emotion, as it can lead to destructive behaviors, such as lashing out at others or even engaging in criminal activities. It can also lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. The best way to overcome envy is to cultivate the virtue of gratitude. Taking time to appreciate what we have and to be thankful for our good fortune can help to put envy into perspective and make it easier to resist. Additionally, building a strong support system of friends and family can help to provide a sense of security and connection that can help to reduce feelings of envy.

4

Gluttony

Gluttony is usually associated with over-consuming of food or drink, but it can extend into many parts of life. Gluttony can be overindulgence in anything and often leads to physical or psychological dependence. Alcoholism and drug abuse are forms of gluttony, for example. Whether gluttony stems from anxiousness about having enough of something (like food), from the need for relief (such as alcohol and drug abuse), or simple lack of control over one’s self-indulgence, the consequences could be as severe as death.

UPD:

Gluttony is one of the seven deadly vices, which are often seen as the greatest forms of sin. It is a form of overindulgence that can lead to physical, emotional, and mental harm. Gluttony can manifest itself in many ways, such as overeating, excessive drinking, and substance abuse. It can also lead to health problems, such as obesity, liver damage, and heart disease. Additionally, gluttony can lead to financial problems, as people often overspend on food and drinks. To overcome gluttony, it is important to practice moderation and set boundaries on how much you consume. Additionally, it can help to practice mindfulness and be aware of how your actions may be affecting your health and wellbeing.

5

Sloth

Sloth is a lack of activity. Lack of activity can be caused by simple laziness or can stem from depression or other physical ailments. Distraction from one’s duties can also become sloth - such as playing games instead of doing the laundry. Often, although someone is not initially depressed, being a couch potato can bring on sadness, depression, or the inability to feel joy simply because of the reduction of endorphins that bring on a good mood.

UPD:

Sloth is a dangerous vice that can have far-reaching consequences if left unchecked. It can lead to a lack of productivity and motivation, which can in turn lead to a decrease in self-esteem and even depression. Sloth can also lead to physical ailments, such as obesity and heart disease, due to the lack of physical activity. Additionally, sloth can lead to financial problems, as money is not being earned due to a lack of productivity. To overcome sloth, it is important to make a plan and set goals to help motivate yourself. Exercise can also help, as it releases endorphins that can help boost your mood and make it easier to stay motivated. Finally, seeking help from a mental health professional can be beneficial if the sloth is stemming from depression or other underlying issues.

Famous Quotes

Happiness depends upon ourselves.

Aristotle
6

Pride

Pride is vanity or an overestimation of our value as human beings. People may strive to be the best - there’s nothing wrong with a little competition - but pride is the thing that makes you want to stroke your ego afterwards by making sure everyone knows how great you are. Pride is also the thing that doesn’t accept help when needed because it makes you look like you might not be able to do everything by yourself. Pride needs to be constantly admired, may fish for compliments, and always tries to one-up people when they are telling stories. Pride is what makes people stuck up and unapproachable, which doesn’t invite many new friends into the fold.

UPD:

Pride is a vice that can be extremely damaging to relationships and even one's own mental health. It can lead to feelings of superiority, which can lead to a lack of empathy for others and cause people to be more judgmental. In addition, pride can lead to feelings of entitlement and a lack of humility, which can lead to a lack of self-awareness and an inability to accept constructive criticism. In order to overcome pride, it is important to practice humility and to be mindful of how one's words and actions may be perceived by others. Additionally, it is important to be aware of one's own strengths and weaknesses, and to strive to be the best version of oneself without comparing oneself to others.

7

Wrath

Wrath is extreme anger, hatred, or rage. When people are consumed with wrath, they tend to think they have experienced injustice in some way, and it makes them angry. If the anger festers and grows into resentment, rage and violence may follow. Sometimes the source of wrath may not even make sense to the observer - a person may get a job, for example, as a result of their skill in some area, and someone may become resentful because they attribute it to their skin color or sex. Wrathful people may take the law into their own hands, may seek revenge, or they may abuse themselves or others.

And now - moving on to OVERCOMING THE 7 VICES WITH THE 7 VIRTUES

UPD:

When dealing with wrath, it is important to try to identify the source of the anger and address it in a constructive way. Acknowledging the feelings of injustice and hurt is important, but it is also important to remember that lashing out in anger rarely solves the problem. Instead, try to practice self-control and take a step back to assess the situation. Consider speaking to a trusted friend or professional counselor to help process the emotions and develop an action plan. It is also important to practice forgiveness and understanding, both for oneself and for others. Finally, try to focus on positive things in life and develop a sense of gratitude. This can help to counterbalance the anger and resentment, and lead to a more balanced and peaceful life.

1

Chastity

Although chastity is a rather old-fashioned virtue, it still holds value in the current time. Freeing ourselves from the constant barrage of sexual images and the pressure to perform sex all the time can be rather liberating. Many religions view the body as a temple of the spirit, and as such it shouldn’t be defiled. After practicing chastity, many people have reported a renewed appreciation of the role of sex in their lives and an ability to focus on people’s good qualities rather than the temporary pleasure they can give us.

2

Charity

Charity might be better recognized today as giving unconditionally. To combat greed, develop an attitude of generosity without any expectation of reward. Material possessions can only bring temporary happiness, and studies have shown that generosity makes people feel happier. Giving doesn’t necessarily have to be huge or directed only to people in need, it could be as simple as brightening a co-worker’s day with a dozen cookies.

3

Kindness

Kindness is not jealous of its fellow human beings. Kindness offers compassion and friendship regardless of the gain or loss, and if we are kind, we realize that each human has his or her own gifts and we all aren’t blessed the same way. Kindness is about appreciation of our neighbors and friends, not about competition. To combat envy, we need to understand that we don’t qualify people as being deserving or not; everyone deserves kindness.

4

Temperance

Temperance is simply another word for self-restraint. Combating gluttony means learning how and when to stop ourselves from over-consuming or over-utilizing goods or even people. Gluttony would like us to give in to our every desire for self-gratification, but with self-restraint we understand over-indulgence isn’t good for us. If we eat too much, we’ll grow to an unhealthy weight. If we drink too much, we may become alcoholics. Temperance is the wisdom to know when it’s time to put on the brakes.

5

Diligence

Diligence has a lot to do with our work ethic. Diligence doesn’t give up when things get difficult and it obligates us to complete our duties. Diligence is the perfect virtue to counter sloth since the drive and desire to see actions to their end keeps people moving forward and leaves little room for laziness. Diligence helps set goals and also helps us budget our time and resources to reach those goals. Diligence never gives up!

6

Humility

Nothing vanquishes pride like a good dose of humility. Unfortunately, so many of us have to find humility, or the state of humbleness, the hard way. Humility is letting the other person lead once in awhile, it’s admitting others may be right, and we might be wrong. But humility isn’t about letting yourself get run over; it’s simply showing respect for other human beings and realizing we may have our own faults as well. It’s giving credit where it’s due and allowing others' stars to shine.

7

Meekness

Quietness and gentleness seem to have little value in a world so brazenly loud, where angry defiance is considered a virtue. However, in the face of wrath, one of the strongest deterrents is not an even louder clamor but a soft, gentle word of understanding and a demeanor of calmness and resolve. Being meek does not equal being a pushover; it simply means you don’t get overcome with wrath by things that are really trivial in the grand scheme of things and that your emotions are on an even keel.

I really enjoyed writing this - it reminded me how flawed yet how precious human beings are. And as old as the 7 Deadly Sins are, they are still hugely relevant. I think some modern vices are selfies (vanity = pride) and obesity (gluttony) and reality TV (greed or envy). What do you think are modern vices?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

@courtneyjade I agree and I always that that vanity was a vice and not lust

I really love this!👍

A theory is that the spongebob characters represent these 7 vices

Thanks Neecey this is a wonderful article. You've got everything spot on

Very nice article

These things make us humans.

@courtneyjade I totally agree.

Sex isn't a sin. Neither is lust. Sex allows us to create deeper connections with another person. It allows us to create children, develop relationships and it also has health benefits. I agree that we shouldn't see people as sex objects but it is completely acceptable to have feelings of lust. Non human animals do it too. Perfectly natural. I also don't believe that having sex makes you any less of a good human. But hey it's just my opinion.

I didn't say that we should have the same beliefs, I was simply stating mine.

@courtneyjade 100% agree. Sex means something different to everyone. Lust isn't bad. It's just a natural part of being human. Plus sex is great and fun and a positive act between two equals !

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