The Seven Deadly Sins Continued

• We all have our own personal preferences, proclivities and desires we'd rather keep unspoken to most and known by a very select few. The seven deadly sins encompass some of humanity's darkest, most pervasive patterns of destruction to self and others, however we often see them as deficits without looking deeper into the progeny of such behaviors. That is what we will discuss as we review the 7 Deadly Sins before having individual group discussions on each of the 7. Please review the following clip prior to attending group:

The Seven Deadly Sins

This group will be scheduled every two weeks at 4:00 pm-6:00 pm (CST) at Panera Bread, on University in Fort Worth at
Panera Bread 1700 S University Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76107.
Ideally we will be sitting at the long table on the left after entering.

The format of the group will consistently follow this pattern:

1. Settle in and start within first 10 minutes.
2. Review Ground Rules, Expectations and Weekly Topic (5-10 minutes)
3. Ice-breaker (will change every week) (10-20 minutes)
4. Main Topic of Discussion (45-60 minutes)
5. Closing Thoughts (10 minute)

The intention for "Blind Spots" is to intentionally discuss our own and society's various mental, emotional, ethical and moral boundaries and blind spots. These are by definition, emotionally charged topics, which is the very point.
The intention of this group is to learn how to better communicate and coincide with those you may not agree with or understand.
Blind Spots is intended to be a place were we can figure out how to better understand those we instinctively call the enemy.
Ground rules:

1. One person will speak at a time.
2. Critical thought and objection are both welcome, however be sure to challenge the content and not the personality.
3. When challenging another’s position, it is encouraged that you question from a place of “trying to understand the other individual’s position”, instead of intending on proving your point or theirs wrong through your questioning.
4. In the event discussion gets heated and volatile between two individuals or factions, the discussion will be halted, followed by taking the next 5 to 10 minutes, to use the remaining parts of the group to break down what just occurred and where communication broke down.

Ice Breaker
Which of the 7 Deadly Sins do you believe is most damaging and why?

1)Pride is often seen as the most dangerous and damaging of the deadly sins and the video states "Boasting is only ever in response to feelings of invisibility."

What has to happen for someone struggling with pride get to the point of being able to admit it?

2)Envy- "The solution isn't to be made to feel guilty for our envious attacks, it's to be helped to understand what is truly missing from our lives."

What does it actually say about us when we get angry with those we are envious of?

How does envy get in the way of true acceptance of ourselves and others?

3)Wrath- "We call someone a stupid fool because we are, at that moment terrified."

How does one recognize wrath is overtaking them before hurting someone else? What is the function of hurting someone as bad or worse as we may feel in the moment?

4)Gluttony is defined by a near insatiable hunger, a hunger that can never be quenched, whether food, knowledge, money, status, the desire for more is ever present.

What is the impact on others, when our appetite is never quenched, more is never enough and people are seen as merely obstacles to what we desire?

5)Sloth is often seen as laziness or the reluctance to put in effort.

Often times sloth is called laziness, but what exactly creates laziness? Or is laziness a quick scapegoat for something more elusive and harder to name?

6. Greed is eerily similar to gluttony in that one's appetite is never satiated, one's avarice can become all consuming if left unchecked in desire for more money, sex, power and the finer things in life.

What natural causes cultivate greed that don't point to a deficit in one's moral compass, rather a normal response to adverse situations?

7. Lust is often noted as the strong sexual desire present for someone or something, but what if it's something more, or maybe even less.

Is there such a thing as healthy lust, or is it simply desire on steroids similar to greed or gluttony? What's the difference?