The Sins We Secretly Love and 7 Sides of Being Human
Manuel Aragon is a Colorado entrepreneur with a deep background in business, tax preparation, advisory, and planning. He has served as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Operations Manager, Finance Director, and Consultant.
We all know the saying, "Nobody's perfect." And it's oh so true! I am so flawed that it gives me an opportunity to share things from my perspective. We are very complex creatures, full of desires and sometimes not-so-great impulses. For centuries, people have talked about something called the "Seven Deadly Sins." These aren't just old-fashioned ideas; they're actually pretty good descriptions of some of the ugliest parts of us and our inner beings. And if we're honest, we often find ourselves drawn to them, even when we know we shouldn't.
Let's break them down and see how they show up in our everyday lives.
1. Pride: The "I'm better than you" feeling
Pride is like thinking you're the best at everything or that you're more important than others. It's that puffed-up feeling when you win something and secretly look down on everyone else who lost. It's wanting all the credit, even when others helped. This is an overinflated sense of competition. Even in sports, it’s the “I’m the greatest of all time (GOAT)” debate or the belief that you have accomplished more than all your peers.
Think about social media. People often post only the best parts of their lives, the fancy vacations, the perfect meals, and the new gadgets. This can be a way of showing off and making others feel a little less, well, impressive. We might even feel a little boost of pride when our posts get lots of "likes." Imagine a super competitive student who brags about their perfect test score, making their friends feel dumb. That's pride at play. It feels good for a moment to be on top, but it can push people away and make us forget that everyone has their own struggles and successes.
The remedy for pride is humility. Humility means being honest about your strengths and weaknesses, recognizing that everyone has value, and being willing to learn from others. It's about celebrating others' successes and being grateful for your own.
2. Envy: The "I want what you have" feeling
Envy is when you see someone else with something, a new phone, a cool car, or a happy family, and you wish you had it instead of them. It’s not just wanting something similar; it’s feeling a little bitter that they have it and you don't.
This is a huge one in our modern world. When we scroll through social media, we see everyone else's highlight reels. Someone's on a beach, someone else got a promotion, and another friend just bought a house. It's easy to look at that and feel a pang of envy, thinking, "Why not me?" We might even compare our own lives to theirs and feel like we're falling behind. Envy can make us unhappy with what we have, even if we have a lot, because we're too busy focusing on what others possess.
The remedy for envy is admiration and gratitude. Instead of wishing you had what someone else has, admire their accomplishments and be truly happy for them. Then, focus on being grateful for all the good things you already have in your own life.
3. Gluttony: The "more, more, more" feeling, especially with food
Gluttony often makes us think of someone eating way too much food. And that's part of it! It's about being greedy with food and drink, eating past the point of being full just because it tastes good or because you can.
But gluttony isn't just about food. It can be about wanting "more" of anything that makes us feel good, even if it's not healthy for us. Think about binge-watching a whole season of a television show when you should be studying or playing video games for hours and hours while ignoring everything else. It's about overindulging in something to the point where it takes over our lives and makes us neglect our responsibilities or well-being. That immediate pleasure can be so tempting, making us forget about the consequences later.
The remedy for gluttony is temperance. Temperance means having self-control and moderation. It's about enjoying things in a balanced way, knowing when to stop, and making healthy choices for your body and mind.
4. Lust: The "strong desire" feeling, often for love or sex
Lust is a strong, often intense desire, usually for things that give us pleasure, like love or sex. It's about wanting something physically or emotionally right now, without thinking about the bigger picture or whether it's good for us or others in the long run.
In today's world, lust can show up in many ways. It could be someone obsessed with dating apps, constantly looking for a new partner for shallow reasons. It could be the pressure to look a certain way because of what we see in movies or on social media, leading to unhealthy body image or risky behaviors. It's the instant gratification of a crush or a fleeting attraction, sometimes ignoring deeper connections or respectful boundaries. The media often plays into this, showing idealized versions of relationships and bodies, which can make us feel like we're constantly searching for something that might not be real or healthy.
The remedy for lust is chastity and self-control. Chastity, in a broader sense, means having control over your desires and directing them in healthy, respectful ways that honor yourself and others. It's about valuing genuine connection and lasting happiness over fleeting pleasure.
5. Sloth: The "I don't want to do anything" feeling
Sloth isn't just being lazy on a Sunday afternoon. It's a deeper kind of laziness, a lack of care or effort, especially when it comes to things we should be doing. It's putting off important tasks, avoiding responsibility, and not using our talents or time wisely.
How do we see sloth today? Procrastination is a huge one. We have a big project due, but instead of working on it, we scroll through our phones, watch YouTube videos, or just sit around. It's also about not bothering to learn new things, not trying to improve ourselves, or not helping others when we clearly could. It's the feeling of "I just can't be bothered," even when there are important things to be done. The easy distractions of the internet can make it even harder to fight off sloth, pulling us into a world of endless entertainment instead of productive action.
The remedy for sloth is diligence. Diligence means being hardworking, putting in the effort, and being responsible. It's about actively pursuing your goals, fulfilling your duties, and using your time and talents wisely.
6. Wrath: The "I'm so mad" feeling
Wrath is about extreme anger, a burning rage that can make us want to hurt others, either with words or actions. It's not just feeling annoyed; it's a deep, uncontrolled anger that can lead to shouting, fighting, or even revenge.
We see wrath in road rage incidents, where a minor inconvenience can turn into a furious outburst. It's also present in online arguments, where people hide behind screens and say incredibly hurtful things to each other. Think about how quickly a disagreement can escalate into a full-blown shouting match or how a simple misunderstanding can lead to someone holding a grudge for a long time. Wrath makes us lose control and can lead us to say or do things we deeply regret later. It's a powerful emotion that, when unchecked, can cause a lot of damage to our relationships and ourselves.
The remedy for wrath is patience and forgiveness. Patience means being able to stay calm and understanding, even when things are difficult or frustrating. Forgiveness means letting go of anger and grudges, both toward others and ourselves.
7. Greed: The "I want all the money and things" feeling
Greed is an intense and selfish desire for more than you need, especially for money, power, or possessions. It's never feeling like you have enough, no matter how much you accumulate.
In our consumer-driven society, greed is all around us. We're constantly bombarded with ads telling us we need the newest, biggest, and most expensive things. People work incredibly long hours, sometimes sacrificing their health or relationships, all to earn more money or buy more stuff. It’s also about hoarding things, not sharing, and always wanting the biggest piece of the pie. Think about how some people might try to get rich quickly, even if it means cheating others, or how some companies might try to get as much money as possible, even if it hurts the environment or their workers. Greed makes us focus on material wealth above all else, often at the expense of our happiness and our connections with others.
The remedy for greed is generosity and contentment. Generosity means being willing to share what you have with others and focusing on giving rather than just taking. Contentment means finding happiness and satisfaction with what you already possess rather than constantly striving for more.
Why we are drawn to them
So, why do we, as humans, often fall into these patterns? A big part of it is that many of these "sins" offer an immediate, if short-lived, feeling of satisfaction or power.
Pride makes us feel important and superior.
Envy sometimes fuels a desire to work harder, though often for the wrong reasons.
Gluttony and lust provide instant physical pleasure.
Wrath, in the moment, can feel like a way to assert control or release pent-up frustration.
Sloth is the easy way out, allowing us to avoid effort and discomfort.
Greed promises security and a sense of accomplishment through the accumulation of wealth.
The problem is that these feelings are often fleeting and can lead to bigger problems down the road. In my own experience, pride can alienate friends, envy can make us miserable, gluttony and lust can harm our health or relationships, wrath can destroy connections, sloth can lead to missed opportunities, and greed can leave us feeling empty even when we have lots of possessions.
It's like eating a whole bag of candy. It tastes great for a few minutes, but then you feel sick. These "sins" are similar. They offer quick satisfaction but often lead to unhappiness or harm in the long run. I wouldn’t have broken out of some of these mindsets without prayer and a deep understanding of my own behaviors.
Understanding these seven common human tendencies isn't about feeling guilty all the time. It's about recognizing them in ourselves and in the world around us. By seeing how easily we can get caught up in pride, envy, or greed, we can start to make different choices. We can try to be more humble, more grateful, more self-controlled, more patient, more active, and more generous. It's a constant evolution, and it reminds me that being human means always striving to become a better version of ourselves.
Read more from Manuel Aragon
Manuel Aragon, Tax Consultant & Advisory Planner
Manuel Aragon has elite expertise in tax preparation, accounting, finance, cash planning, and tax strategy. Manuel has delivered modern, innovative financial solutions, driving growth and efficiency for multiple companies in Colorado. His leadership and approach have solidified a reputation for excellence, onboarding, and overall client satisfaction. Continues to serve in multiple roles across the Front Range as a Tax Preparer, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Operations Manager, Finance Director, and Consultant.
