The Role of Attachments in Finding Peace and Happiness

Anxieties reveal our attachments, indicating what we care about and believe we need to be okay. Attachments cause unhappiness by creating a state of clinging to things or people we believe are necessary for our happiness. These attachments, or idols, promise peace and happiness but lead to anxiety and misery as they can be stripped away. Jesus teaches that as long as we need life to go a certain way to be happy and at peace, we will never achieve those states or become loving individuals. The spiritual journey involves slowly burning off attachments to all that is not God, leading to peace and serenity. Ancient Christian art reflects this serenity, with the facial expressions of Jesus and the saints communicating calm and maturity. The American cultural emphasis on emotional expression contrasts with historical norms, where smiling for the camera was not the norm.