We all know what unwholesome desires are and the harmful actions they lead us to. Responding skillfully to unwholesome desires is relatively simple: All that’s needed is mindfulness to know when they have arisen and an ongoing commitment to live according to your values, which gives you the strength to not yield to such desires. Even a wholesome desire can lead to unskillful acts and all manner of suffering if it becomes an obsession, or if you start to rationalize or justify it in your mind. A wholesome desire becomes an unwholesome one if it brings about restlessness and worry because of craving or brings ill will toward those who you perceive to be thwarting the desire, or if it leads to a confused state of mind.

Dancing with Life, Chapter 9, pp. 84-85

For your reflection: Practice being mindful of unwholesome desires. Notice if you fall into guilt or self-judgment when an unwholesome desire arises. If this is the case, you’re less likely to notice unwholesome desires because you don’t want to feel that way. Instead of judging yourself, objectively examine your unwholesome desire and how it leads to suffering.