In the oxford dictionary, Temperance is defined as the abstinence from alcoholic drinks and also moderation or self restraint, there are many other words, all meaning the same thing.
Personally I think that there are many things in life that we could have self restraint in, our societies have created so many useless, harmful products which are of literally no benefit to us what so ever, yet we just can't help ourselves, what is it that tempts us so much to need to over indulge.
Mine is salty snacks, very harmful to the adrenals but I just love the crunch and burst of flavour, usually artifical flavourings, equally bad for us! and chocolate.
This is tied to a ritual which gave a certain sense of comfort, the quality time spent with our dad was usually in the pub or him in the pub and us outside, so we were also being educated to the pub being a place to spend your down time and as I grew thats exactly where I went.
"Temperance and Labour are the two best physicians of man. Labour sharpens the appetite and Temperance prevents from indulging to excess."
Jean Jacques Rousseau
I can totally relate to this quote, as it has been in the times when I was confused, bored and generally not knowing where i'm going and not in my excitement of my projects and vision, that I wanted to slip in to these illusory comforts.
I can also extend this to a people pleasing angle, as I have had many moments where I have drank alcohol, even though I didn't really want to, just to please (I thought) the person I was with.
With that I can ask, how often do we go against ourselves for a lack of temperence?
I can be very firm with myself, if I want to yet I also know the sinking feeling that takes me back to the comfort zone, I now know that I need to pick myself up and make some plans, change my priorities and bring myself back to excitement or another way is to just sit with my self and feel what it is i'm feeling, giving those feelings the awareness they need and the understanding of where they came from to be able to release the past.
"The world is wide and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum"
Frances E. Willard
We need to understand the beliefs, behaviours and habits which bring us in to friction with ourselves and block our momentum with the flow of life.
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