Summary
When Spiritual Progress Stalls
Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross
Anger in spiritual people looks different than regular anger—it's wrapped in righteousness, which makes it twice as toxic. He describes spiritual beginners who become irritable and peevish when their initial enthusiasm wanes, like children whose favorite toy has been taken away. This isn't about religion specifically—it's about any growth process where early excitement gives way to the hard middle phase. The author identifies a dangerous pattern: when progress feels slow, people often respond with anger at themselves and unrealistic expectations. They want to become masters overnight, making grand resolutions and ambitious plans. But this impatience actually works against them. The more they demand instant results, the more frustrated they become when change takes time. Saint John sees this as a fundamental misunderstanding of how transformation works. Real growth requires what he calls 'spiritual meekness'—a patient acceptance that meaningful change unfolds on its own timeline, not ours. This insight applies far beyond spiritual life: whether learning a skill, building relationships, or changing habits, the same pattern emerges. Initial enthusiasm fades, frustration sets in, and impatience creates its own obstacles. The solution isn't to push harder but to develop a different relationship with the process itself. Saint John suggests that only by moving through what he calls 'the dark night'—periods of difficulty and apparent stagnation—can people develop the patience and humility necessary for lasting transformation.
Coming Up in Chapter 6
Having explored how anger sabotages spiritual growth, Saint John will next examine another common pitfall that traps beginners on their journey toward authentic transformation.
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An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 244 words)
Of the imperfections into which beginners fall with respect to the sin of wrath. By reason of the concupiscence which many beginners have for spiritual consolations, their experience of these consolations is very commonly accompanied by many imperfections proceeding from the sin of wrath; for, when their delight and pleasure in spiritual things come to an end, they naturally become peevish, and in their peevishness they become irritable towards themselves and towards spiritual things, like a child when taken from the breast which it desires. There is no sin if a man is troubled at first by the withdrawal of spiritual blessing; but, if he become attached to this peevishness, it is a great imperfection and the devil plays his part therein, by suggesting how unfair God is not to give him what he needs. Thus these souls become angry with themselves at this time, with an impatience that is not holy, and desire to be saints in a day. Many of these persons purpose to accomplish a great deal and make grand resolutions; but, as they are not humble and have no misgivings about themselves, the more resolutions they make, the greater is their fall and the greater their annoyance, since they have not the patience to wait for that which God will give them when He will. This is a great imperfection and in direct opposition to spiritual meekness which cannot be wholly remedied save by the purgation of the dark night.
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Impatient Ambition
When initial enthusiasm fades, people respond with unrealistic expectations and anger that sabotage their own progress.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between actual problems and the normal difficulty that comes with any growth process.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you feel frustrated with your progress—ask yourself if you're expecting overnight mastery or accepting that real change takes time.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Spiritual consolations
The good feelings, motivation, and sense of progress that come at the beginning of any growth journey. Saint John describes these as the emotional highs that make people feel like they're on the right track.
Modern Usage:
We see this in the honeymoon phase of new relationships, the motivation rush when starting a diet, or the excitement of beginning a new job.
Concupiscence
An intense craving or desire for something, especially when that desire becomes unhealthy or controlling. In this context, it's the desperate need for constant good feelings and progress.
Modern Usage:
Like being addicted to the dopamine hit from social media likes, or needing constant validation to feel good about yourself.
Peevishness
Being easily irritated, cranky, or bad-tempered when things don't go your way. Saint John compares it to a child having a tantrum when their toy is taken away.
Modern Usage:
The attitude people get when their phone battery dies, when traffic is slow, or when their favorite show gets cancelled.
Spiritual meekness
A patient, humble acceptance of the process of growth, including the difficult parts. It's the opposite of demanding instant results or getting angry when progress is slow.
Modern Usage:
Like accepting that learning guitar takes months of sore fingers, or that healing from trauma happens in waves, not straight lines.
Purgation
A cleansing or purification process that involves getting rid of what doesn't serve you. For Saint John, it's about letting go of unrealistic expectations and impatience.
Modern Usage:
Similar to decluttering your house, detoxing from toxic relationships, or unlearning bad habits that hold you back.
Grand resolutions
Ambitious, often unrealistic promises people make to themselves when they're frustrated with slow progress. These usually backfire because they're based on impatience rather than understanding.
Modern Usage:
Like New Year's resolutions to completely change your life overnight, or promising to work out two hours daily when you haven't exercised in years.
Characters in This Chapter
The spiritual beginner
Protagonist struggling with growth
Represents anyone in the early stages of personal development who becomes frustrated when initial enthusiasm fades. They want to be perfect immediately and get angry when real change takes time.
Modern Equivalent:
The person who quits the gym after two weeks because they don't see results
The devil
Antagonist/tempter
Represents the voice that tells people they deserve instant gratification and that slow progress means something is wrong. Suggests that God or life is being unfair to them.
Modern Equivalent:
That inner voice that says 'you should be further along by now' or 'everyone else has it easier'
God
Patient teacher/guide
Represents the natural process of growth that can't be rushed. Gives what people need when they're ready for it, not when they demand it.
Modern Equivalent:
The wise mentor who knows you have to learn lessons in your own time
Key Quotes & Analysis
"they naturally become peevish, and in their peevishness they become irritable towards themselves and towards spiritual things, like a child when taken from the breast which it desires"
Context: Describing what happens when people lose their initial motivation
This comparison to a child having a tantrum perfectly captures how adults often react to setbacks. It shows that getting cranky when good feelings end is natural but not mature.
In Today's Words:
When the good vibes stop, people get cranky and start hating on the very things they used to love, like kids throwing fits when snack time is over.
"desire to be saints in a day"
Context: Explaining the unrealistic expectations of impatient beginners
This phrase captures the absurdity of expecting instant transformation. It reveals how impatience actually works against the very goals people are trying to achieve.
In Today's Words:
They want to be perfect immediately, like expecting to become a master chef after watching one cooking show.
"the more resolutions they make, the greater is their fall and the greater their annoyance"
Context: Warning about the danger of making too many ambitious promises
This shows how good intentions can backfire when they're based on frustration rather than realistic planning. The cycle of big promises and bigger disappointments becomes self-defeating.
In Today's Words:
The more impossible goals they set for themselves, the harder they crash when reality hits, and the more pissed off they get.
Thematic Threads
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Saint John shows how spiritual beginners become angry when early enthusiasm wanes, demanding instant mastery instead of accepting natural development timelines
Development
Deepened from earlier focus on external obstacles to internal psychological barriers
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you quit new habits after a few weeks because progress feels too slow
Expectations
In This Chapter
The chapter reveals how unrealistic expectations about transformation timelines create their own obstacles to growth
Development
Introduced here as a central psychological mechanism
In Your Life:
You might see this when you expect immediate results from therapy, diet changes, or learning new skills
Patience
In This Chapter
Saint John advocates for 'spiritual meekness'—patient acceptance that meaningful change unfolds on its own timeline, not ours
Development
Introduced here as the antidote to impatient ambition
In Your Life:
You might need this when supporting family members through recovery or your own career transitions
Self-Sabotage
In This Chapter
The text shows how anger at slow progress actually slows progress further, creating a destructive feedback loop
Development
Introduced here as an unconscious psychological pattern
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when your frustration with weight loss or debt reduction makes you give up entirely
Transformation
In This Chapter
Saint John reveals that difficult 'dark night' periods aren't obstacles to growth but necessary phases where real change happens
Development
Evolved from earlier chapters to show transformation as a process rather than an event
In Your Life:
You might see this during challenging periods in relationships or career changes that later prove essential for growth
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Saint John describes spiritual beginners who become irritable when their initial enthusiasm fades. What specific behaviors does he identify when people hit this wall?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Saint John argue that impatience and grand resolutions actually work against progress rather than accelerating it?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this pattern of initial enthusiasm followed by frustrated impatience in modern life - at work, in fitness, relationships, or learning new skills?
application • medium - 4
How would you apply Saint John's concept of 'spiritual meekness' to help someone who's getting angry at their slow progress in something they care about?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about why humans struggle so much with accepting natural timelines for growth and change?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Impatience Triggers
Think of something you're currently working on or learning. Write down what your initial expectations were versus what the reality has been. Then identify the specific moments when you feel most frustrated with your progress. Finally, design three 'micro-goals' that would let you measure progress on a weekly rather than daily basis.
Consider:
- •Notice whether your frustration comes from comparing yourself to others or to unrealistic timelines
- •Pay attention to whether you're measuring the right things - sometimes we track outcomes instead of effort
- •Consider how your past experiences with quick wins might be setting you up for impatience with slower processes
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you almost gave up on something important but pushed through the frustration. What kept you going, and what did you learn about your own growth process?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 6: When Good Intentions Go Too Far
As the story unfolds, you'll explore to recognize when spiritual practices become self-defeating, while uncovering seeking comfort over growth stunts personal development. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.