Dr. Christopher Kaczor is a professor of philosophy at Loyola Marymount University. He recently wrote an overview of how Ignatian spirituality overlaps with contemporary psychology. Not making decisions during times of desolation, gratitude, and spiritual direction are all Ignatian themes with confirmation from contemporary psychologists.
The remarkable overlap between Ignatian spirituality and contemporary psychology is not altogether surprising. If all truth ultimately comes from God, we should expect not a contradiction between the empirical findings of psychology and faith, but their ultimate harmony. In fact, there are many other ways in which positive psychology confirms the wisdom of traditional spiritual practices such as prayer, forgiveness, humility, and service to those in need. These contemporary psychological findings provide new impetus for putting into practice ancient spiritual wisdom.