As I sat here eating leftover pho for lunch, I had a though, “There can never be enough bean sprouts in pho!” I know, goofy thought, but it was what occurred. I then thought well sure, I don’t want a bowl of bean sprouts, I want the noodles, the broth, the seasonings and the bean sprouts, all in one happy, balanced bowl. This led me to think about moderation. We all know we should do all things in moderation – not only eating sweets, but all things in life, even the positive things, are best in moderation. The key is finding that balance point where you are satisfied and pleased, without being excessive, extravagant, addicted or obsessed.
I know we’ve all been there. You have a favorite food or combination and think that if it’s good as is, it’d be awesome with more of your favorite piece. But then you realize that the balance is lost and isn’t as good as the original. If one cookie is good, another cookie will be just as good, if not better, right?! In my experience, that’s not correct. Often the second one isn’t as good as you thought it’d be, or that second scoop of mashed potatoes pushed you from full to stuffed. More isn’t necessarily better.
So how do we find this sweet spot? Practice and awareness.
Sometimes it takes many (MANY) times before we start to realize. If you pay attention, you might start to notice that one piece of something is good, but two becomes too much. At some point, you’ll figure out that you should just have the one. It might take time. We’re used to do things excessively and without thinking about them (impulsive purchases, overeating, etc.) and it takes time, dedication and practice to begin to chip away at these behaviors.
The key here is that this process is not easy. It takes time and effort. Be gentle with yourself. Be patient and keep trying.
Common things that we don’t approach with moderation
1. Sweets
2. Sleep
3. Work (work/life balance is really just moderation with work and moderation with life)
4. Alcohol
5. Relationships (giving and receiving love)
6. Shopping/Spending
7. Exercise
What’s the thing you struggle with? Mine is sweets for sure, but I’m working on it. Slowly. Share your experiences in the comments.