Vices – Iniquity, Inc.

Sloth: The Art of Doing Nothing, Mastered

Sloth: It’s not just about lounging in your pajamas all day—though, let’s be honest, that’s a solid part of it. Sloth is the sneaky little voice that convinces you to scroll through TikTok instead of tackling your to-do list, and it’s been quietly running the show while you’ve been “busy.” In this post, we’ll dive into why procrastination has become the new national pastime, how Sloth is more dangerous than you think, and—spoiler alert—how to outsmart it with just five minutes of effort. Because, let’s face it, Sloth is too lazy to fight back.

In the grand hierarchy of the Seven Deadly Sins, Sloth often feels like the one that’s just, well, too lazy to compete with the big boys. Lust is out there seducing everyone, Pride is inflating egos, and Greed is busy hoarding everything in sight. Meanwhile, Sloth is like the guy on the couch, saying, “I’ll ruin your life… tomorrow.”

But here’s the thing: Sloth may be the most subtle and sneaky of all the vices. It’s not just about lounging around all day in pajamas (though, that’s certainly part of it); it’s also about the kind of laziness that infects your ambition, your relationships, and—worst of all—your potential. Sloth doesn’t just keep you on the couch; it keeps you from becoming who you’re capable of being.

The Modern Face of Sloth: Procrastination Nation
Sloth has had a makeover, and today we call it “procrastination.” Why put off until tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely? We live in a world where “I’ll get to it later” has become a way of life. After all, we’ve got endless distractions to justify it. Why start that big project when you could binge-watch another season of whatever’s trending? Why clean the garage when you can fall down a TikTok rabbit hole for the next hour… or five?

But here’s the catch: Sloth isn’t just about physical laziness. It’s the mental and spiritual inertia that keeps us from taking action. It’s that voice in your head convincing you that scrolling through your feed is productive because, hey, maybe you’ll come across some useful info. (Spoiler: you won’t.) It’s the paralysis of choosing to do nothing meaningful, masked as being “busy” with mindless tasks.

Sloth in the Workplace: How to Avoid Doing Work at All Costs
Sloth thrives in environments that reward looking busy instead of being productive. Think of all those meetings that could have been an email, or better yet, nothing at all. Sloth loves “busy work” because it gives you the illusion of progress without actually requiring you to do anything substantial. You know, those days where you spend hours reorganizing your inbox instead of tackling the big project that’s been looming for weeks.

Sloth isn’t just the guy who misses deadlines—it’s the person who avoids anything meaningful that could push them out of their comfort zone. Sure, you’ll answer that email, but will you work on that personal development you’ve been putting off for months? Probably not.

Practical Implications: The Hidden Cost of Doing Nothing
Sloth is one of those vices that seems harmless on the surface. What’s the big deal about taking it easy? Everyone deserves a break, right? The problem is, Sloth isn’t about taking an occasional break—it’s about never really getting started in the first place.

Over time, Sloth has a way of eroding not just your work ethic, but your relationships, your health, and even your sense of purpose. When you consistently choose comfort over challenge, you stagnate. It’s that feeling of being stuck in a job you hate but never really doing anything about it. Or realizing you haven’t made any real progress on your goals because Netflix’s auto-play feature has been running your life for the last six months.

The scariest part of Sloth? It sneaks up on you. One day you’re just skipping a workout, the next you’re skipping out on life.

How to Beat Sloth: Turning Inertia Into Action
Here’s the good news: Sloth might be powerful, but it’s also easily tricked. The trick to beating Sloth is momentum. Action, any action, creates more action. It’s like rolling a boulder down a hill (except, you know, with less effort once it gets going). Start small, and build on that progress.

Take tiny steps: The next time you’re tempted to procrastinate, tell yourself you only have to do something for five minutes. That’s it—just five. More often than not, you’ll keep going after the timer goes off.
Set deadlines: Nothing gets you moving like a looming deadline. If one doesn’t exist, make one up. Tell your friend you’ll send them that article by the end of the day. Public shame is a great motivator.
Remove distractions: Let’s face it, most of us aren’t lazy because we want to be; we’re lazy because distractions make it easy. Set some boundaries. Turn off your phone, unplug the TV, or block distracting sites for a few hours.

But most importantly, remind yourself why you’re doing this in the first place. What’s the bigger goal? Sloth loves when you lose sight of the big picture, but when you’re connected to your “why,” it’s easier to stay in motion.

Sloth’s Surprising Upside
Wait, is there an upside to Sloth? Sort of. Like all vices, when recognized, Sloth can be redirected in a useful way. After all, a little laziness can spark some incredible efficiency. Many inventions were born out of someone wanting to make life easier for themselves (hello, remote control). The key is in moderation. Take time to rest and recharge when you need to—just don’t make it your lifestyle.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Let Sloth Win
At the end of the day, Sloth might seem like a harmless, passive sin, but it’s the slow erosion of your potential. It’s not just a nap on the couch—it’s a missed opportunity, a deferred dream, a life on pause. The real tragedy of Sloth isn’t what you’re doing—it’s what you’re not doing. So, the next time you’re tempted to put things off or take the easy way out, remember that every small action you take chips away at Sloth’s hold on your life.

Or, you know, you could just think about it… later.

Pride: The Ego Trip We’re All Taking

Pride: It’s the quiet mastermind behind most of your bad decisions. Whether it’s refusing to admit you’re wrong or crafting the perfect online persona, Pride whispers, “You’re better than this”—but what it really means is, “You’re too scared to change.” In this post, we’ll explore how Pride sneaks into every aspect of life, inflates egos, and keeps you stuck—plus, how a little humility can save you from yourself.

If vices were competing for the title of “Most Likely to Ruin Everything,” Pride would take home the gold, the silver, and probably brag about getting the bronze, too. Out of all the Seven Deadly Sins, Pride is often considered the granddaddy of them all—the vice that not only kicks off the downfall but insists on sticking around to watch the destruction with a smug grin. But in a world that practically runs on self-promotion and inflated egos, is Pride really still a problem? Oh, absolutely.

The Original Sin: Not Just for Theologians
Long before your coworker took credit for that idea you pitched, Pride was already making its rounds in human history. It’s the classic tale of “I know better,” from Adam and Eve biting into the forbidden fruit to your friend who insists on ignoring GPS because “they know a shortcut.” In essence, Pride is the sneaky belief that you’re above everyone and everything—rules, people, even reality. It’s the root of a whole lot of trouble, and if we’re being honest, it’s the vice most of us are guilty of way more than we’d like to admit.

Modern-Day Relevance: Pride in the Age of Selfies
Let’s face it—if Pride could pick a favorite era, it would be now. We’re living in the golden age of self-promotion. Social media platforms practically beg us to show off our best selves, even if that “self” is 98% filters and lighting tricks. Instagram is a gallery of humblebrags; LinkedIn is a place to inflate your achievements with words like “visionary” and “disruptor,” and Twitter is a breeding ground for hot takes that scream, “I know best!” It’s not just that we’re proud of our achievements (a little pride is fine, by the way), it’s that we’re tempted to build entire personas around how much better we think we are.

But here’s the kicker—modern Pride doesn’t just live in obvious places. It’s also hiding in quieter corners. Like when you refuse to admit you’re wrong, or when you secretly relish someone else’s failure because it makes you feel just a little bit superior. Pride’s sly that way; it doesn’t need a stage. Sometimes, all it needs is a passive-aggressive “like” on someone’s bad news post.

The Cost of Always Being Right
Pride is costly—not just in terms of friendships or your reputation as the guy who never admits when he’s wrong, but in more tangible ways, too. Take a moment to think about how many conflicts—whether on a global scale or in your office’s break room—are fueled by Pride. Leaders refuse to back down, people double down on bad decisions, and relationships crumble because no one wants to be the first to say, “You know what, maybe I’m wrong here.”

Pride also makes it harder to learn. After all, why would you bother improving if you’re already convinced you’ve got everything figured out? It’s the reason why someone will keep arguing about a topic they barely know, or why a company will stick with a failing strategy just to avoid admitting they missed the mark.

Practical Implications: Recognizing and Battling the Beast
So, how do you know when Pride has taken the wheel? It’s not always as obvious as walking around like you’re the main character in everyone’s life story. Here are a few subtle ways Pride might be messing with you:

You Struggle to Accept Criticism: Even the constructive kind. When someone offers feedback, do you immediately get defensive? Pride loves to shield us from the uncomfortable truth that we might not be perfect.
You Can’t Say, “I Don’t Know”: Admitting ignorance feels like a weakness, but in reality, it’s the first step to learning something new. Pride, however, would rather you just fake it ‘til you make it—and never admit when you didn’t know it in the first place.
You Crave Validation: If your day hinges on how many people liked your post or how many compliments you got on that presentation, Pride might be pulling the strings.

Deflating the Ego: The Cure for Pride
The antidote to Pride is a hefty dose of humility—but not the kind that makes you self-deprecating to the point where you never give yourself credit. True humility is more about recognizing that you’re not the center of the universe and that other people might actually know something you don’t. It’s about accepting help, acknowledging your flaws, and—gasp—sometimes letting others take the spotlight.

Here’s where humility really shines: it opens you up to growth. When you set aside the need to be right all the time, you get to learn from others, improve, and build stronger relationships. Plus, admitting you were wrong from time to time is actually a power move—it shows self-awareness and strength.

Pride Isn’t the Boss (Even Though It Thinks It Is)
In a culture where you’re expected to “be your own brand,” Pride can feel like a survival tool. But the truth is, Pride is less about self-confidence and more about self-delusion. It’s the voice that says, “You’re better than this,” but what it really means is, “You’re too scared to admit you might need help.” The more you give in to Pride, the more you close yourself off from genuine growth, meaningful relationships, and—ironically—the success you’re so proud of chasing.

So, the next time you feel Pride rearing its head, remember that a little humility can go a long way. After all, there’s nothing wrong with taking a step back and letting someone else be right. Just don’t brag about it when you do.

Envy: The Green Monster in Your Social Media Feed

Envy: It’s that little green monster that shows up when you scroll through Instagram, making you wonder why everyone else is living their best life while you’re still figuring out your WiFi password. In this post, we’ll explore how envy has evolved in the age of social media, and why using it as a motivator might just turn your jealousy into action (instead of doom-scrolling).

Ah, envy. It used to be about coveting thy neighbor’s oxen. Nowadays, it’s about coveting their vacation photos on Instagram and their seemingly perfect life updates on Facebook. In the digital age, envy isn’t just a sin—it’s a full-time hobby.

The New Neighborhood: Social Media Streets
Remember when you had to actually see your neighbor’s new car or designer bag to feel envious? Those were simpler times. Now, envy is turbocharged by social media, where everyone’s life looks like a series of perfectly curated, hashtagged adventures. It's easy to feel like everyone else is living the dream while you’re living in pajamas.

Today's Relevance: Envy in the Age of Online Over-sharing
Every scroll through your feed can be a new opportunity to measure your life against someone else’s highlight reel. Envy taps into our deepest insecurities and whispers, "Why isn't that you?" Whether it's someone's job promotion, exotic vacation, or even their home-baked sourdough that looks like it should be in a food magazine, envy makes you question your own choices.

Practical Implications: Turning Envy on Its Head
But what if we could harness this vice for good? Instead of letting envy gnaw at us, we can use it as a motivator to pursue our own goals or to reconnect with what truly makes us happy. Envy, when acknowledged and redirected, can actually push us to improve ourselves. It can be the nudge you need to finally start that online course or to pick up that old guitar gathering dust in the corner.

A New Perspective on an Old Vice
Ultimately, envy doesn't have to be the villain in our lives. By recognizing it and understanding why we feel it, we can control how we react to it. Instead of being bitter about someone else's success, we can celebrate it as a reminder of what’s possible. Envy, then, becomes less about what others have, and more about what you can achieve.

So next time you catch yourself turning green over someone's latest post about their fabulous life, take a breath. Remember, it’s just a snapshot, not the whole picture. Use that twinge of envy as a spark to light up your own ambitions, not as a reason to burn down your self-esteem.