Theological ~ Carmelite Tendencies

I've become increasingly aware of having what I understand to be a "Carmelite" spirituality:

1) An intense desire to experience God

2) An "all-or-nothing" spirituality; an intense desire to put everything on the altar for God, and consciously understand everything in my life as a path to God

3) A romantic personality, that strongly seeks a beloved, and union with the beloved

4) Intense interior life

5) Time spent in the deserts of life so that my soul can focus on God alone

6) Interior spiritual steel, forged out of "Dark Nights"

7) A constant, transcendent awareness. An otherworldly way of being.

8) An intense encounter with God in the interior of my heart, whereas in other spiritualities the encounter may be elsewhere, e.g. in nature and simple living (Franciscan), in exploration and the adventure (Jesuit), in intellectual truth and philosophy (Dominican).

9) A focus on my spousal relationship with God; deeply pondering Jesus as Bridegroom
10) The feeling of traversing whole continents without ever "going" anywhere; intensely moved by life as it is