While We May Behave Like Beasts, “Human Nature is NOT, of Itself, Vicious” – Step 4

A handsome centaur atop a cliff holding a spear w/ sfz title
“CREATION gave us instincts for a purpose. Without them, we wouldn’t be complete human beings.” (12 & 12, p. 42)

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What was your most recent act of compassion lately?

OR

If I have strong feelings or needs, does that mean I’m a bad person, or just a person who needs help?

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Human Nature – Michael Jackson (5:08)

The Zen Buddhist Origins on Human-Nature (8:54)

Nature Healing Piano Meditation (10:00)

ENGLISH ANALYSIS

Today’s SFZ explores human nature, addiction, and liberty. They affirm that instincts, while strong, serve a purpose. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions states that our natural desires like how sex, security, and companionship, are “perfectly necessary and right.” These instincts make us human, not evil. Thomas Paine echoes this view in his claim: “Human nature is not of itself vicious.” He argued in The Rights of Man that society, not nature, corrupts us.

Carl Jung believed instincts held psychic energy. When repressed, that energy turned destructive. He might say addiction misuses this energy. In Modern Man in Search of a Soul, Jung emphasized understanding the unconscious. He would likely approve of examining “compulsive routines,” as the second quote suggests.

Addiction hides the purpose of instincts. It Works: How & Why urges us to examine these habits. This self-inquiry breaks the chains of compulsion. Viktor Frankl, in Man’s Search for Meaning, wrote that suffering can lead to growth. He said, “Between stimulus and response, there is a space.” That space allows choice. When we reflect on our motives, we reclaim this space.

The beast within us isn’t evil. It only seeks expression. Compassion toward our flaws brings freedom. We stop seeing ourselves as savage centaurs. Instead, we see wounded humans with the power to heal.

 


SPANISH TRANSLATION OF QUOTES

1. “La CREACIÓN nos dio instintos con un propósito. Sin ellos no seríamos seres humanos completos.”
“Así que estos deseos – por la relación sexual, la seguridad material y emocional, y la compañía – son perfectamente necesarios y correctos…” (12 y 12, p. 42)

2. “Simplemente observamos
nuestros instintos,
nuestros deseos,
nuestros motivos,
nuestras tendencias
y las rutinas compulsivas
que nos mantuvieron atrapados en nuestra adicción.”
(Funciona: Cómo y Por Qué, p. 28)

3. “La naturaleza humana no es, en sí misma, malvada.”
– Thomas Paine (1737–1809), patriota y estadista estadounidense


SPANISH TRANSLATION OF ANALYSIS AND QUESTION

Las tres citas de SFZ exploran la naturaleza humana, la adicción y la libertad. Afirman que los instintos, aunque poderosos, tienen un propósito. Doce Pasos y Doce Tradiciones dice que nuestros deseos naturales – como el sexo, la seguridad y la compañía – son “perfectamente necesarios y correctos.” Estos instintos nos hacen humanos, no malvados. Thomas Paine reafirma esto al decir: “La naturaleza humana no es, en sí misma, malvada.” En Los Derechos del Hombre, argumenta que la sociedad, no la naturaleza, nos corrompe.

Carl Jung creía que los instintos tenían energía psíquica. Cuando se reprimen, esa energía se vuelve destructiva. En El Hombre Moderno en Busca de un Alma, Jung subraya la importancia de conocer el inconsciente. Probablemente aprobaría examinar “rutinas compulsivas,” como sugiere la segunda cita.

La adicción oculta el propósito de los instintos. Funciona: Cómo y Por Qué nos anima a examinar estos hábitos. Esa autoexploración rompe las cadenas de la compulsión. Viktor Frankl, en El Hombre en Busca de Sentido, escribió que el sufrimiento puede conducir al crecimiento. Decía: “Entre el estímulo y la respuesta hay un espacio.” Ese espacio permite elegir. Al reflexionar sobre nuestros motivos, recuperamos ese espacio.

La bestia dentro de nosotros no es malvada. Solo busca expresarse. La compasión hacia nuestras fallas trae libertad. Dejamos de vernos como monstruos. Nos vemos como humanos heridos con poder de sanar.

¿Si tengo sentimientos o necesidades fuertes, eso me hace una mala persona o solo alguien que necesita ayuda?

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Comments

14 responses to “While We May Behave Like Beasts, “Human Nature is NOT, of Itself, Vicious” – Step 4”

  1. Eli🌱 Avatar
    Eli🌱

    My feelings aren’t my morals. The way I feel is not the way I act, the way I impact the world. I should have said- feelings aren’t morally ‘good’ or ‘bad in the first place. They just exist. They are entirely manageable by me

  2. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    Sometimes I need help. In fact, I generally go from extreme to extreme. That is something I am working on. Practicing compassion on a daily basis is a core part of who I am. And as I often reflect on, all of these behaviors start internally. Loving myself, being compassionate to myself, having empathy for myself. When i can accept who I am consistently, I am also able to do it externally in a way that is healthy, helpful and honest. I am a good person, who needs help.

    Thank you, I appreciate the opportunity to share and heal with all of you. Grateful. <3

  3. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    I think we are all designed with love and compassion. It’s not something that I could just conjure up on my own I was obviously designed with it. My compassion goes a long way when the motives are pure and it was of help recently to a fellow addict and I am now overwhelmed with gratefulness to God for installing compassion in my design!

  4. Tony O. Avatar
    Tony O.

    The path to hell is paved with good intentions. Remain objective and care about the outcome of others. There are 3 personality types. Listerner 20%, lookers 70% and feelers 5%

  5. Simon Yebio Avatar
    Simon Yebio

    In one way or another, my actions are in direct relationship to wanting,needing or pushing away things “I Believe ” I can not live without

  6. Bohdi Baba Avatar

    This took a little thinking (which is not a good sign) but I suppose my excursion to Bass Lake this past week involved some selflessness on my part. Although I think I got so much more from experience with my tent mate.

  7. Br. Buddha Avatar
    Br. Buddha

    Good morning everyone + happy Monday. Here is today’s thought. There are 2 forces in the world; a force for good + a force for bad. We all have free will, the choice to be on the side of right or on the side of wrong. God can only work through us + does have a purpose for all of us. So, come into the stream of goodness. You will be guided by God + be carried along by everything that is right. Blessings. BB

  8. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    I listened to someone vent after a meeting last night about their homeless situation and ex-partner who they relapsed with. I helped fix someones leaky faucet who I had no clue who the heck they were, lol.

  9. Margot E. Avatar
    Margot E.

    Thanks to all who share on this page. I love reading your wisdom and strength. Please know that when I can read your shares, I am reaffirmed and receive messages I need to hear.

  10. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    Now, to answer the question. I guess helping clean up after a party for people I barely knew. It made me feel good because they expressed how exhausted they were at the end after having put the party together.

  11. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    I love the quote. People so often look at human nature as inherently evil or completely instinct driven. While those things CAN be a PART of our nature, that isn’t all we are. If we were, we wouldn’t be human imho. The capacity for compassion is the primary characteristic that makes us human.

    1. JB jr. Avatar
      JB jr.

      I so completely agree. But then sometimes I have to wonder if its just instincts that dogs are loyal to their owners. Still, I don’t think any creature on Earth can match our ability to affect one another’s life in such significant ways.

      I’d say spending an hour doing some research for an acquaintance who was in great distress provided him with some small comfort.

  12. brita Avatar
    brita

    My instincts are definitely not “right” – recently a person 1/2 my age had a crush on me – I had to seek outside advice to do the right thing & not get involved. On my own, selfishly, my ego was majorly stroked!

    1. Slim Jim Avatar
      Slim Jim

      Being seen as sexy is a reaffirmation of what we should already know, being creatures of our HP’s great design. I too had to align my sex instinct, which has no restraint, with my vision of the loving relationship I’d like to have. Unfortunately, my potential partner isn’t quite there yet and totly ok with that.

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