Lust

[Sunstone]

Some folks praise lust* and wholly embrace it, others condemn lust and wish to purge themselves of it. Neither approach seems the wisest to me.

I think lust can be either life-affirming or life-denying -- depending on how skillfully you deal with it.

As a life-affirming emotion, it can give us the energy to live more fully and more passionately -- if at times only in regards to its object. As a life-denying emotion, it can give us the energy to ignore everything but it and what we're specifically attracted to. For instance, we might ignore someone's personality to focus only on their body.

But what do you think? How do you handle lust?



*I'm defining "lust" here as mere "sexual desire", rather than as "excessive sexual desire", although it is sometimes defined in the latter way.

 

[Terese]

May i ask, how can lust be life affirming? Wouldn't controlling the desires and senses of the body prove more fruitful?

 

[Vee]

But what do you think? How do you handle lust?



*I'm defining "lust" here as mere "sexual desire", rather than as "excessive sexual desire", although it is sometimes defined in the latter way.

I think about the possible consequences. What will happen if I act on that lust? What will be the impact on my life and on the life of that person?
Is it worth to act on it or am I better off getting a cold shower?

 

[Father Heathen]

impulsion and repression are both unhealthy. Desire and indulgence should be tempered with sense and reason.

 

[Enoch07]

But what do you think? How do you handle lust?

I try to control it. Because of this:

As a life-affirming emotion, it can give us the energy to live more fully and more passionately -- if at times only in regards to its object. As a life-denying emotion, it can give us the energy to ignore everything but it and what we're specifically attracted to. For instance, we might ignore someone's personality to focus only on their body.

Lust is natural. All humans must learn to deal with it in their own ways. But I have been victim to myself with lust too many times to let it have power over me again.

So I just do the best I can to not let it control me.

 

[oldbadger]

But what do you think? How do you handle lust?

*I'm defining "lust" here as mere "sexual desire", rather than as "excessive sexual desire", although it is sometimes defined in the latter way.

In my youth I never could cope with sexual desire.
I was its slave entirely.
But as I grew older so Nature slowly released its grip and I began to find joy in looking upon my perception of beauty without the wrenches of dominating natural forces.
And in that new character I met with my lovely wife.
Luck...... absolute luck

Thank goodness that sexual education is now mandatory in all UK schools. That might just make a difference for our young ones.

 

[Tmac]

Some folks praise lust* and wholly embrace it, others condemn lust and wish to purge themselves of it. Neither approach seems the wisest to me.

I think lust can be either life-affirming or life-denying -- depending on how skillfully you deal with it.

As a life-affirming emotion, it can give us the energy to live more fully and more passionately -- if at times only in regards to its object. As a life-denying emotion, it can give us the energy to ignore everything but it and what we're specifically attracted to. For instance, we might ignore someone's personality to focus only on their body.

But what do you think? How do you handle lust?



*I'm defining "lust" here as mere "sexual desire", rather than as "excessive sexual desire", although it is sometimes defined in the latter way.

Sorry pal but this whole idea is flat, lust is lust, watered down for the sake of word play its not lust any more, I get where you are going though, the duality.

 

[SalixIncendium]

But what do you think? How do you handle lust?

I don't praise nor deny lust. Lust is an instinct. It just is. I feel it and either take appropriate action or take no action if it is deemed inappropriate to do so.

 

[Valjean]

May i ask, how can lust be life affirming? Wouldn't controlling the desires and senses of the body prove more fruitful?

Just what fruit are you aiming for?

I think about the possible consequences. What will happen if I act on that lust? What will be the impact on my life and on the life of that person?
Is it worth to act on it or am I better off getting a cold shower?

I think you may be making too much of it. If no-one's bleeding or emotionally traumatized afterward, then it's just a harmless indulgence, isn't it?

 

[idav]

Some folks praise lust* and wholly embrace it, others condemn lust and wish to purge themselves of it. Neither approach seems the wisest to me.

I think lust can be either life-affirming or life-denying -- depending on how skillfully you deal with it.

As a life-affirming emotion, it can give us the energy to live more fully and more passionately -- if at times only in regards to its object. As a life-denying emotion, it can give us the energy to ignore everything but it and what we're specifically attracted to. For instance, we might ignore someone's personality to focus only on their body.

But what do you think? How do you handle lust?



*I'm defining "lust" here as mere "sexual desire", rather than as "excessive sexual desire", although it is sometimes defined in the latter way.

Lust sometimes requires a sort of meditation to overcome, if that is your aim. As you mentioned balance is a bit more healthy but meditation is the best way I know how to describe being able to focus our attention on specific things of our choosing. I also think about lust on how Americans easily obsess over it compared to more open cultures, so a lot of times we could be making into something it is not. Also because people just think its rude if you stare, especially if staring only at certain areas. "Uh my eyes are up here" she tells me lol.

 

[Geoff-Allen]

“Sex without love is a meaningless experience, but as far as meaningless experiences go its pretty damn good.”

Woody Allen

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

Some folks praise lust* and wholly embrace it, others condemn lust and wish to purge themselves of it. Neither approach seems the wisest to me.

I think lust can be either life-affirming or life-denying -- depending on how skillfully you deal with it.

As a life-affirming emotion, it can give us the energy to live more fully and more passionately -- if at times only in regards to its object. As a life-denying emotion, it can give us the energy to ignore everything but it and what we're specifically attracted to. For instance, we might ignore someone's personality to focus only on their body.

But what do you think? How do you handle lust?



*I'm defining "lust" here as mere "sexual desire", rather than as "excessive sexual desire", although it is sometimes defined in the latter way.

Lust is one of several intuitions that arise around puberty that conspire to cause new family units to bud off from existing households.

First, the teens start rejecting their parents which loosens the bond there.

Then lust leads to young men and women finding one another and having intimate relations.

In the females in particular, there seems to be a nesting instinct - she wants her own space to have and raise children.

Then, parental instincts kick in.

When people lose their appetites, they lose some of their motivations to act.

 

[Stanyon]

I'm pretty sure none of us would be here if it weren't for lust

 

[Valjean]

That may be so, but what's your assessment of 'lust'?

 

[Tmac]

I'm pretty sure none of us would be here if it weren't for lust

This thought needs a little work before I give it a yes or nay.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I'm pretty sure none of us would be here if it weren't for lust

Does this turn you on?

 

[Stanyon]

Does this turn you on?

From where I sit it seems a bit like the difference between this:

And this:

 

[SalixIncendium]

From where I sit it seems a bit like the difference between this:

And this:

Me, too.

I'm pretty sure fire wouldn't be here if it weren't for lighters.

 

[sun rise]

Lust is commonly made equivalent with sexual desire. But I can lust after a new phone or a new car. I can lust after power. I can buy an album entitled "Lust for Life".

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

Lust is commonly made equivalent with sexual desire. But I can lust after a new phone or a new car. I can lust after power. I can buy an album entitled "Lust for Life".

That's correct, but please not ethat it is often the case that a word has a literal definition as well as many metaphorical uses of the same word, such as "My wife is the baby of her family," "Football is his religion," "He worships money," or "I have a thirst for adventure." These later usages are often given as second or third definitions after the literal meaning.

the definition of lust

noun
1. intense sexual desire or appetite.
2. uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness.
3. a passionate or overmastering desire or craving (usually followed by for): a lust for power.
4. ardent enthusiasm; zest; relish: an enviable lust for life.
5. Obsolete. pleasure or delight. desire; inclination; wish.

verb (used without object)
6. to have intense sexual desire.
7. to have a yearning or desire; have a strong or excessive craving (often followed by for or after).