Despondency, Acedia, Vainglory, & Pride

Despondency (Sadness) - Depression affects more than 300 million people worldwide and seems most prevalent in America. Consuming sadness is like an auto immune disease that keeps us from what makes us healthy. The tendency for most in this state is to isolate.

Godly Virtue - Connection with God and People

Action items to try - either a camping or mission trip with another person, or a disconnection from what makes you isolate (media, TV, phone, etc.). If a disciple is not in a DBS yet make sure they take steps toward a group.

Resources - Another action the desert church fathers would take with those experiencing extreme sadness was renouncing worldly possessions, they found people sad because they compared themselves with others and found themselves wanting in comparison

Acadia (boredom, sloth, listelessness) - Acedia - restless discontent, tinged with bitterness, listlessness, laziness, restlessness. John Cassian translated acadia as a weary restless heart (Mid life crisis). Losing spiritual intensity because life/faith has not gone as I thought it should go. The effects of acedia are sabotage. The self importance can lead to self loathing, feeling of un-appreciation. 

Godly Virtue - Be quiet, abound in love, pursue your own affairs, work with your own hands, Walk honorably for the sake of outsiders, desire nothing from anyone. 

Action ideas to try - Ask your disciple what their favorite hobby is and have them build, design or make something in line with their hobby. After they do this task, pray with them about what they are supposed to do with their creation. 

Vain Glory - This is a desire for approval from other people, a need to be seen, noticed and appreciated. 

Godly Virtue - Contentment

Action Ideas to try...Wear nothing but the same 2 or 3 pairs of clothes for the course of a month, take a spiritual fast from people for an entire 24 hour period (get away for solitude).