Why moderation helps lead to happiness.
My husband doesn’t do moderation well. He’s one of those people who thinks, if a little is good – a lot must be better. I have to keep reminding him, a little goes a long way. After all, water is good for you, but if you aren’t careful, you can overdose on it. Not to mention, drown in it.
But here’s another way to think about moderation. When you moderate, you are choosing to balance things. You aren’t going too far in one direction nor too far in another. You are actively working to get the balance right.
One of the reasons why people choose not to moderate themselves is because it takes work. The act of choosing is the act of thinking. And, thinking well is hard. It’s much easier to be on autopilot. The problem is that – if you don’t pay attention to where you are going, you could end up someplace you don’t want to be.
People who make the effort to act in moderation, think about what they want so they can choose their actions wisely. And being wise, they actively choose to choose so that they can get the best of both worlds.
For instance, if you choose to moderate the temperature (assuming you have a thermostat and can do that), you can ensure that the temperature is not too hot or too cold. It’s just right. If you choose to moderate your emotions, you can choose to be both engaged and calm at the same time!
This is why people who are capable of moderation are considered wise. The more you can get the balance right, the better off and the happier you will be. So take the time to think a little. The effort is well worth it.
My husband doesn’t do moderation well. He’s one of those people who thinks, if a little is good – a lot must be better. I have to keep reminding him, a little goes a long way. After all, water is good for you, but if you aren’t careful, you can overdose on it. Not to mention, drown in it.
But here’s another way to think about moderation. When you moderate, you are choosing to balance things. You aren’t going too far in one direction nor too far in another. You are actively working to get the balance right.
One of the reasons why people choose not to moderate themselves is because it takes work. The act of choosing is the act of thinking. And, thinking well is hard. It’s much easier to be on autopilot. The problem is that – if you don’t pay attention to where you are going, you could end up someplace you don’t want to be.
People who make the effort to act in moderation, think about what they want so they can choose their actions wisely. And being wise, they actively choose to choose so that they can get the best of both worlds.
For instance, if you choose to moderate the temperature (assuming you have a thermostat and can do that), you can ensure that the temperature is not too hot or too cold. It’s just right. If you choose to moderate your emotions, you can choose to be both engaged and calm at the same time!
This is why people who are capable of moderation are considered wise. The more you can get the balance right, the better off and the happier you will be. So take the time to think a little. The effort is well worth it.
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