Why Does It Feel So Good To Do Something "Bad"?

[seoulsearch]

Hey Everyone!

Admittedly, this thread title alone could be an interesting test of whether or not people actually read the original post. If we get anyone blasting their way into the thread with lectures and walls of Scripture about our sinful nature and lusts of the flesh... It's a dead giveaway that this first post was skipped.

The context I'm thinking about here is, why does it feel so good to "break away from routine" and do something for ourselves that feels so GOOD that it actually seems BAD, even if it's really not?

For example:

* Why does it feel so good to have a "cheat day" if you're dieting? Now, I'm not talking about total gluttony or going to a buffet and gorging to the point where you really ARE doing something sinful that harms your body. What I mean is, why does it feel SO good, after going low-carb for 3 days, to eat a meal of TACOS made with ACTUAL heart, crunchy, gloriously carb-filled cornmeal taco shells and finish it off with a dish of (full-fat) ice cream?

* Why does it feel so good, after diligently following a regular exercise program for some time, to take a day or two (or even a week) off and just watch movies, TV, or play video games? Or maybe for you it's the opposite... If you're carving some time out of your busy schedule to work out, do you feel guilty for taking time for yourself?

* Why does it feel so good for people who take care of other people (parents raising kids; adults taking care of parents; older brother or sister caring for their younger siblings) to take time off and enjoy themselves, even when they often feel guilt for not being with the people they are caring for?

* Why does it feel so good to read a book, do some shopping, or go on vacation, and why do we often feel "guilty" because we're not at work or doing something "productive"?

Feel free to post your own examples that fit under these categories as well, and then talk about why enjoyable things can create such negative stigmas and feelings.

It there something wrong in our society or our culture today that has somehow made such things seem "evil" or as if they're something to feel guilty about?

What makes "good" things feel "bad" in your life, and is there something we should change about that?

 

[Willie-T]

Because were/are designed to respond to spontaneity. We have to learn to be hum drum. We are trained to need guilt.

 

[Galahad]

We feel good with "cheat days" because they are our reward times. Like our paydays.

Okay, why feel guilt when not productive? Because some folks fail to recognize that there's productivity even in reading a book.

Guilty for taking care of self but feel good for taking care of others? Kind of like Bathsheba's husband. He would not enjoy the luxury of home and wife while his men were out at battle.

Perhaps if we did all things heartily, as unto the Lord, we would not only be more focused on tasks and responsibilities and with why we do those more tiring things, but we would enjoy all the more the rewards and the more quite less demanding activities.

Good questions Seoulsearch!

 

[Dino246]

Interesting thread! For years I have awoken and risen early, often well before six AM, even on weekends. Now I take Saturday mornings off, to the point that I have stayed in bed past 10 several times. Coffee happens, maybe some reading or watching videos, but not much else. The first couple of times, I felt guilty. Now it just feels peaceful. It's a sense of Sabbath without the rules and regs.

Dino

 

[zeroturbulence]

Because everything that feels good is bad.

 

[cinder]

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we are constantly encouraged to do the things we "should" do (as defined by society, faith, or other external sources) instead of the things we want to do. So we are out of practice at doing things just because we want to do them. And we've probably all been guilt tripped (or at least someone tried to) with the whole it's selfish to do things just for yourself what about what I need, want, was expecting, etc.

Oh and let's not forget that modern society measures a person's value in terms of their productivity or usefulness. I still have a hard time just doing something for the sheer enjoyment of doing it, but I do have a two week vacation lined up soon so that should be good. Just me and no obligations and I might actually get to do things I want to do instead of should do.

 

[Roh_Chris]

I agree with what Cinder has posted. We are constantly bombarded by directives on what we "should do", that we have little time to find out what we "want to do" and pursue them. The world is so competitive today that everybody is measured by how productive they are, how many hours they spend in office, when was the last email they sent or replied to, are they up all night working, etc. We have lost the ability to "switch on" and "switch off" and to compartmentalise our different activities.

Since the last couple of years, I have learnt that taking breaks to do the "wrong thing" (as Kim puts it), is so invigorating. During this period, I "switch off" from work and responsibilities, and I pamper myself with the luxury of travelling and/or lazing around. Eventually, I come back to my routine feeling energised and motivated and my productivity is at the peak-level, until it is time to take a break again. It is a good habit, but sadly, not everybody does this.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Maybe the feeling bad bit is the devil trying to sidetrack us to worry about stuff we shouldn't worry about and waste our energy there?

“The man who truly and disinterestedly enjoys any one thing in the world, for
its own sake, and without caring two-pence what other people say about it, is by
that very fact forewarmed against some of our subtlest modes of attack.”
―
C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

 

[zeroturbulence]

One reason it feels good to do something bad is because you're exercising your freewill. You're doing something that you were forbidden to do but you're doing it anyway and it feels good because its like a form of freedom through defiance. It can give you a rush and actually turn you into a criminal. Just look at shoplifters as an example...

 

[Gozinia]

I still agree with JSR...why even need a cat?

 

[Lynx]

A full and comprehensive answer to the OP question would require many pages of neurological analysis. Such is beyond both the scope of a forum post and my own ability. So I will merely reply that it's just human nature.

And having said that, I'm going back to my video game now. Ciao y'all.

 

[Cruisyazz]

It's all in your head.

 

[Lynx]

Yeah, pretty much.

I like tinkering with music. But before I start tinkering it's so hard to make myself start. Once I start I don't want to stop. But before I start for some reason I don't want to start.

If anyone can explain to me the preceding paragraph I would be grateful. I'm the one who said it and I still don't understand it. But that's the way it is.

 

[Siberian_Khatru]

The long and short of it is that people put a bad spin on selfishness. It's not as "evil" as it's made out to be - within reason.

 

[chickwithsticks]

Well if one would go to the NT and read from Luke chapter ......JUST KIDDING SEOULSEARCH I read your OP.

Why does it feel so good on a Saturday when no one is in my home and I don't have to cook for anyone, entertain anyone etc to deliberately stay in my Jammie's all day and eat cereal watching TV, reading a book and playing on CC?

Because Jammie's rock and it restorith the soul for the next day's battle. Nuf' said. ??????

 

[Theygaveutheirworst]

Romans 7:15 gives us a good idea about why we cave in with what we might find to be this little and big things...
"For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate."

 

[Cruisyazz]

Why do the unplanned events always turn out to be the best??