Chapter 14
Sacred Desires and Hidden Treasures
But under the various deterrent influences Jude’s instinct was to approach her timidly, and the next Sunday he went to the morning service in the Cathedral church of Cardinal College to gain a further view of her, for he had found that she frequently attended there. She did not come, and he awaited her in the afternoon, which was finer. He knew that if she came at all she would approach the building along the eastern side of the great green quadrangle from which it was accessible, and he stood in a corner while the bell was going. A few…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
The Desire Archaeology Dig
Think of a recent decision you made where you gave one reason publicly but had deeper, more complex motivations privately. Write down your 'official' reason, then dig three layers deeper, asking 'What was I really after?' with each layer. Map the journey from surface justification to core desire.
Consider:
- •Notice how each layer feels more vulnerable or 'unacceptable' than the last
- •Consider whether the core desire itself is actually problematic, or just the way you were pursuing it
- •Look for patterns in how you typically disguise your real motivations
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when admitting your real motivation (even just to yourself) changed how you approached a situation. What happened when you stopped lying to yourself about what you actually wanted?
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