Creating Space…Self-Care Series: Moderation

Creating Space …Self-Care series: Moderation

The surprising benefit of using moderation this holiday season that could change your life.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

While most things look entirely different this year in 2020 than they did at this time last year, there is one thing that remains a constant - holiday temptation. So If you are anything like me - “sure I’ll have just. one. more. cookie”, or replace with the vice of your choice, this post is definitely worth a revisit. And while we’re at it, let’s raise a glass to a New Year that we can only hope brings a lot more favor and grace than the one we just experienced.

(Originally published on lsfyoga.com, Dec 2019)

I’m a big believer in moderation. I think that deprivation of any sort is a straight up crime, but by the same token most of us would agree that overindulging can have its own pitfalls. Maybe because one of my core values is balance, I’m particularly committed to the idea of moderation. This is especially true during the holidays. I think moderation goes MUCH further than knowing when to pull back from the cookie jar or the extra helping of Christmas Day mac & cheese. I strongly believe that moderation sets off a chain event of decisions and attitudes that lead to an overall sense of self satisfaction and a deeper gratification than giving in to either extreme. 

I believe when we choose to practice moderation we remind ourselves that we are the ones in control of our own fate, our destiny. I believe when we DEPRIVE ourself of anything (spending a little money, having that glass of wine, that cookie or the extra hour of sleep, we signal a feeling of deprivation which comes with an inherent sense of dissatisfaction. Conversely, when we go too far in the other direction - spending wildly, eating an entire sleeve of Oreos (yes i have a lot of cookie references) or sleeping an entire day away. I think those instances create a feeling of helplessness and defeat, as if we simply couldn’t control our urges and therefore we’ve somehow lost an undeclared battle of will. Once we develop that shift in mindset, it often shows up in other areas of life. We sometimes stop believing in our own personal power.

Moderation however strikes a perfect balance between delighting in the little things we enjoy, while maintaining our own sense of self control. Maintaining self control creates a sense of accomplishment. Accomplishment tends to trigger a deeper sense of commitment to bigger goals. Said differently, when you give yourself a little, you gain a lot. Trust that you have good boundaries for yourself and that you are capable of good decisions. I believe it’s the key to future success and ultimately a way to shower yourself with a little self love. You’d be surprised at all the other endeavors that become positively impacted as a result.

Now, go have a little pie, or simply veg out in front of the tv for a bit. Reward your great work with a stroll around the block, or a snowball fight outside. Balance is good. 

Namaste…