Living with neither too much nor too little, we find balance. At the rational intersection of abstinence and indulgence, moderation offers a healthier overall well-being. Without moderation, our undisciplined souls abuse some of the most beautiful gifts that life has to offer. From food to fun to anything under the sun, life’s blessings, while highly rewarding in small doses, can be disastrous in an all-consuming capacity.
Health
So often, the “more, more, more mentality” interferes with our health and happiness. Most American parents ask, “Are you full?” Parents of non-American children across the planet ask, “Are you still hungry?” While it may only be a subtle difference, Americans’ attitudes towards food are commonly unhealthy; we are among the most obese nations on the planet.
While a glass of wine with dinner can reduce the risk of heart disease, the health risks of excessive alcohol consumption drastically outweigh any perceived benefits.
Work
Do we work to live or live to work? Have we learned the value of healthy balance? Mothers are wise to give their very best to their profession, while specifically carving out time for NOT working. It feels good to earn a good living, be part of an amazing team, and work towards building something special. That said, few people on their deathbed have ever uttered, “I wish I spent more time working.” Remember the quote by Denzel Washington, “You’ll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse. I don’t care how much money you have or what level of notoriety you’ve achieved, you can’t take any of it with you.”
Technology
As electronic devices and technology bring the world to our fingertips, we can instantaneously access information, check in with friends and family on social media, and get our dopamine fixes as others acknowledge us virtually. Conversely, our health and well-being require that we live our real lives in the real world—and not just through the pixels forming images on a screen. It’s important to set self-imposed limits.
Stress
According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, physiological and mental arousal leads to improved performance, but only to a point. While stress arousal is necessary to achieve more, when it becomes too high, performance deteriorates. By moderating our stress levels—both up and down—we optimize health and performance.
A Word of Caution Regarding Moderation
Saint Augustine describes the human struggle with moderation when he wrote, “Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.” As insatiable beings who pursue the desires of our hearts, ambitious humans tend to throw shade to the wind and pursue our dreams, even if our efforts are against the grain. Irish playwright, Oscar Wilde, declared, “All things in moderation, including moderation.” German writer, Friedrich von Schlegel, took an even less favorable, mean-spirited approach by saying, “Moderation is the spirit of castrated narrow-mindedness.”
Summary
People designed to win at all costs ignore the offerings of balance and equilibrium; moderation imposes limitations on any unrelenting quest. Where each of us fall on this continuum depends on how our soul is designed to move through the world. The most famous Greek philosophers all favored moderation. As the safe place between too much and too little, Plato described moderation as “the harmony between, reason, spirit, and desire.” Aristotle said, “It is best to rise from life as from a banquet, neither thirsty nor drunken.” Socrates chose the all-encompassing words “everything” and “nothing” in his famous declaration, “Everything in moderation. Nothing in excess.”
“Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons, for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.” —Proverbs 23:20-21 NLT
Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns Too Much of a Good Thing is Bad by Reverend Ana & Howard Binkow, illustrated by Susan Cornelison
(4 – 9 years)
This book playfully contends deals with issues of overdoing and overeating. We learn that through discipline and moderation, we can have a sense of personal power.
Perfectly Yourself: Discovering God’s Dream for You by Matthew Kelly
This life-changing book addresses the opportunities and obstacles we encounter when we ask life’s BIG questions: “Who am I? What am I here for?” Many of us have failed at a diet, survived the collapse of a relationship, or wondered if we would ever find a fulfilling career. Perfectly Yourself is a book for anyone who longs to be at peace with who we are, where we are, and what we are doing, not in some distant tomorrow, but here and now today.
Off Balance presents a system that drives increasing levels of satisfaction both personally and professionally.
“But everyone else has it.” “If you loved me, you’d get it for me!” When you hear these comments from your kids, it can be tough not to cave. You love your children―don’t you want them to be happy and to fit in? Kristen Welch knows firsthand it’s not that easy. In fact, she’s found out that when you say yes too often, it’s not only hard on your peace of mind and your wallet―it actually puts your kids at long-term risk.
PLEASE NOTE: As an Amazon Associate, Mothers Truly Matter earns from qualifying purchases. The information in this post should not be construed as providing specific psychiatric, psychological, or medical advice, but rather to offer readers information to better understand the lives and health of themselves and their children. It is not intended to provide an alternative to professional treatment or to replace the services of a physician, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist.
