The danger of measuring holiness by "winning."
The Default Mode
When we start a new spiritual practice—like detachment or a new prayer routine—we measure it like a diet. "I did it for 10 days straight, so I'm succeeding." Or, conversely, "I messed up on day 3, so I'm a failure." We obsess over the streak. We confuse holiness with a flawless performance record. When we fall, the shame is often so heavy that we just stay down, convinced we "broke" our progress.
The Carmelite Shift
The goal isn't success; it's perseverance. St. Teresa of Avila called this a "determined determination." The spiritual life is not a straight line of victories. It is a jagged line of falling down and getting back up.
God does not need your success; He needs your will. If you detach from a bad habit and then slip up, the detachment isn't "ruined." The moment of failure is actually a new opportunity for obedience—to apologize to God, go to confession, and move forward without wallowing in self-pity.
The Question: Where in your life have you stopped trying because you stopped "succeeding"? What is one area where you need to stop counting your streaks and simply get back up?
This is a small insight from my latest podcast episode. To listen to the full discussion and get your free "5-Minute Prayer Reset" guide to help you put these ideas into practice.
You'll also unlock our full library of public podcast episodes with show notes, transcripts, and the members-only sticky player.
