“When the soul betrays itself and looses the blessed and longed-for fervor, let it carefully investigate the reason for loosing it. And let it arm itself with all its longing and zeal against whatever caused this. For the former fervor can only return through the same door through which it was lost.”

St. John Climacus

The Ladder of Divine Ascent

I do not think it possible that the soul betray itself.

That said, it is possible for the intellect to betray the deep self and leave it feeling very empty and deprived…burned out.

It is true that the way back from that is to find our fervor again.

In that movie K-Pax…remember that movie?…the task was to find the blue bird of happiness.

That’s how you find your fervor again.

Find your happy thought and embrace it with the enthusiasm of a child.