We hear the term dysphoria being used a lot nowadays, especially when it comes to gender identity and psychological matters. I think we hear the word but I wonder how many understand what it really means! According to many dictionaries, dysphoria is a state of feeling very unhappy, uneasy, or dissatisfied. Thus, the opposite of dysphoria would be euphoria. I believe we hear this term a lot, too, but I think many of us do not know what it really means.
First, it is impossible to be euphoric all the time. Why? The general definition of euphoria states that it is an excited state of joy or an intense feeling of happiness. Even though we all want it, it is humanly impossible because our body, psyche, and overall being cannot constantly be in that intense state forever. No matter how we put it, constant euphoria is physically, emotionally, sentimentally, psychologically, and spiritually impossible. It is important, therefore, to recognize that true happiness has much more than the outer, external, fleeting, and temporary emotional and sentimental state.
As a matter of fact, the philosopher Aristotle talked about the four stages of happiness. He called the basic and shallowest sense of happiness laetus because it is based on pleasure and our immediate gratification desire to satisfy those urges. The second level is called felix, which is a more egocentric sense of happiness. It finds gratification based on comparative and personal achievements. Basically put, we feel happy when we have “better” or “more” things than others. However, that is, too, short-lived.
The next level of happiness is called beatitudo, which is a contributive type of happiness. One is invited to seek a deeper, more meaningful, and purpose-filled life by doing good for others by contributing to something that is greater than one’s self. This next level of happiness is much more than the basic urges or desires to treat everyone else as tools, instruments, and services to satisfy our wants and needs. It moves us beyond ourselves as the center of the universe toward the recognition and service of those who are around us.
Beatitudo is the root word for beatitude, which captures our feeling of blessedness. Beatitudo helps us to begin to see that we are blessed when we are able to genuinely bless others through heartfelt service. Thus, the last and deepest state of happiness for Aristotle is called sublime beatitudo because it is the ultimate, transcendental, and perfect happiness that comes from good itself.
Christian thinkers picked up his thought and expounded on it, naming the summum bonum — the greatest good — as God Himself. Created in the image and likeness of God, we are called to desire, pursue, and love the greatest good, not just some apparent, captivating, fleeting, egocentric, or lesser good. Things that are appealing and look good for one moment will always come and go, we will never be really satisfied, because our greedy and materialistic mindset always desires more. Comparing ourselves with others might work for a short moment or two, but then our own insecurities kick in and make us unhappy because we become jealous of others’ good fortunes and pity ourselves for not having what we think we deserve. Our minds remain mundane, hedonistic, and materialistic unless we raise them up to the things that are eternal, transcendental, everlasting, and life-giving instead of focusing on worldly vanities and glories.
The pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness sets us free so we can understand, appreciate, and open ourselves up to the will of God. It frees us from enslavement and toxic codependency to a certain something or someone. It allows us the freedom to be detached and to seek the things that give, nourish, and lift us up from pleasurable, egocentric, or mundane desires. It seeks what comes from His very own loving will for us!
As a matter of fact, the Collect (Opening Prayer) for the 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time states:
O God, who show the light of your truth
to those who go astray,
so that they may return to the right path,
give all who for the faith they profess
are accounted Christians
the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ
and to strive after all that does it honor.
My first set of questions for you would begin with: “What name are you proud to be called and associated with?” I hope we are proud to bear the name of Christ as Christians instead of a particular revolution, movement, political party, or supporter of some institution or person. If we are proud to bear the name of Christ as His disciples, we, then, must ask ourselves how are we discerning, seeking, and desiring holiness and truth, conforming our lives to His very own examples of obedience, humility, and meekness? Will people see, hear, and are able to recognize Christ in us or will they see someone of this world and its mundane ways of life? Do our priorities match the Gospel, freeing us from being tied down to the empty things of this world, fearful of losing our popularity or control factor, or wanting recognition in return when we do something for someone? Those are all hard questions to reflect upon, but we are called to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ in order to seek the truth, grow in holiness, willing to let go, and personally strive after all that brings honor to Him.
Secondly, how can we seek the light of His truth in our very own particular walk of life? Since the life of faith requires continual conversion so we can return to the right path when going astray from His will, we are reminded that we should be mindful of humility, docility, and meekness to conform our lives to His will for us. This is VERY HARD at times because it will challenge us deep from within to let go of our own version of happiness, control, and desire in order to seek, understand, and grow where He has planted us. It will, at times, make us become unpopular, not well accepted, and looked at with suspicion by the government and others.
When I was a young child, living in Viet Nam under communism, I could never understand why my family would never give into the common practices that many others were doing around us! Back in the ’80s, everyone was expected to “show” and express their “patriotism” by having pictures of great (communist) revolutionary leaders displayed at home. Many had Ho Chi Minh displayed; some went all out with Marx, Lenin, Mao, and Ho all framed at home. Those who did not were often questioned, harassed, and insinuated disloyalty or lack of love for the revolution by local people’s committee members, police officers, and “patriotic” neighbors.
Nonetheless, none of those revolutionary leaders and their pictures were displayed in our home. When you walked into our little house, you would only see the old altar that displayed the crucifix at the center, a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and pictures of our ancestors and relatives who passed away. There was no political affiliation displayed nor any talk regarding politics at home. Perhaps times were hard and we were focused on surviving, but we only prayed and talked about our daily life and what seemed to matter in our everyday conversations.
I remembered my own family members were being questioned at times. I remembered being asked at school, too. I, as a child, questioned my own family’s decision because I did not understand the whole situation. We were taught communist propaganda at school, constantly being told how great and wonderful we were to be liberated from Western imperialism and be given new freedom, equality, and opportunities in the people-centered and Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. I did not know better… I was ignorant of the reality, being brainwashed by propaganda and fake education. I resented my own family because how they were ignorant, hard-headed, and did not choose to conform to the rest of society so we could at least have a better life! I did not understand why we had to be poor, rejected, and dismissed for no real reason.
We were also told to be patriotic and heroic at school. They basically told us to spy on our family and report anyone that does not conform to the socialist and communist ways of life! Those who showed enough patriotism and heroism were awarded the symbolic red scarf, enrolled in the special group of students, and were called “modeled children of Uncle Ho.” Those students and their families tend to have more social advantages because they were closely tied to the government, did many things to show their “patriotism” to local leaders, and loved to stand out from the rest. Some of them were willing to sell out their neighbors, friends, and family members in order to stay ahead and gain the necessary social, political, and financial advantages. I remembered people “disappeared” after being asked to appear at the local police or people’s committee station, especially when they were identified by others and labeled as suspicious and not supposed to be where they were.
There were things we saw but did not talk about…
Times were hard. Life was not the best. I hated being poor, looked down on, rejected, dismissed, and looked at with suspicion. I did not understand why we had to endure inequality and be treated like distrustful people. I was envious of what other “patriotic” families in the neighborhood had in possession. I was consumed by jealousy at times when we were not given what seemed to be normal “like everyone else” around us. Of course, my family did not share with me what happened to many of our own members throughout the war, especially the murders, imprisonments, and mistreatments.
I was ignorant.
However, looking back, I now understand how courageous they were! They did not bend to the political and social pressures. They would rather be misunderstood, dismissed, and rejected than reject their own faith and sincere beliefs in what is right, just, and the truth. My family spoke loudly (without using words) about their life choices, especially in the day and age when people were beaten, mistreated, blacklisted, and even made to disappear if they go against the government.
We all did our best to keep our family members safe. It was a dangerous time. Nonetheless, they did not have to use words, and people were able to tell by what they believed with who they chose to display (and not display). I did not understand then, but I now understand and appreciate what it means to believe through the non-verbal and courageous actions of my very own family members.
We were on the receiving end of many of those unfair categorizations. I remembered my own father being rejected for many opportunities. I witnessed my mother being denied promotion because other workers were more patriotic. I grew up very fast at a young age to take care of my brother while my parents were doing their best to scrape by and survive in the unfair “socialist paradise” of Viet Nam.
People told me that I must not remember a lot of the past but they are wrong. I remembered many things as a child because they made me who I am today! My brain perhaps tried to forget some of the more painful and traumatic memories because there were too many, but I am grateful to be able to remember the ones that made me strong in my faith, identity, and commitment to the truth.
As a priest, I have not gone through the harsh mistreatments like my family and many others in the past, but I had gone through numerous harassments when I brought missionary teams and worked with Mother Teresa‘s sisters in Viet Nam. I know that every time I write or say something against the communists, I will “suddenly” receive many “views” from China and Viet Nam scrubbing through this blog. I already know my fate, how I am being tracked, and what will happen to me as someone who is a “traitor” and labeled a “Western sympathizer and supporter” by the communists. Even though I am tired and frustrated at times, I am never discouraged. I can always recall the numerous examples of heroism and courage of Vietnamese Martyrs and simple people I had come to know in my life who chose and stood by the faith in the midst of many trials and hardships.
I am proud to be a Catholic and a priest!
I am scared to think about it at times, but I wonder how many of us will actually will to endure pain, suffering, mistreatment, and many harsh reactions because of our faith. I wonder how many have bought into the vocal, reactive, and comfortable lifestyle of the Christian “by name” attitude but are not willing to endure and mature in our very own life and faith journeys. It is a hard question to answer, and I do believe that none of us are really ready for it… Nonetheless, let us do our best to seek true happiness as we yearn and grow in His will for us. I will end with the opening prayer I quoted earlier again. Take a moment to reflect and pray about it…
O God, who show the light of your truth
to those who go astray,
so that they may return to the right path,
give all who for the faith they profess
are accounted Christians
the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ
and to strive after all that does it honor.
I Thirst (John 19:28) with Father Khoi 