How Temperance Bolsters Healthy Living

In simple terms, temperance is setting limits and maintaining a healthy balance in all facets of life. It is our ability to carry out activities in the proper amount or quantity. Simply put, it is knowing when and how to stop and go. Amongst all the natural laws for healthy living, temperance can be termed as the law that balances the other laws and should be practiced within each health law.

For many of us, living a balanced life in today’s fast paced, global economy is not easy. In fact, finding a balance with the right amount of what we should have or do consistently is difficult. Some of us simply just have a hard time sticking with the recommended requirements. That’s life! Well, this article is written with all of us in mind and the intent is to remind us of the importance in living a balance life in order to stay healthy.

Temperance is Self-Control

Temperance is a character that is very essential to have if we want to lead a healthy life. It is self-control.

One of the ways having self-control is expressed is in the ability to turn down activities that are harmful to our overall well-being. Oftentimes though, it may be harder to practice self-control in situations where the activities are not so clear-cut, “black or white.”

Things to Avoid

To encourage optimum health, let’s discuss a few things we should avoid. Did you know that alcohol, tobacco and caffeine impact our immune system negatively and have been associated with increased risk for cancer and other diseases?

Alcohol

Are you aware that consuming alcohol has a harmful effect on our most cherished and vital organs, the brain? The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has put out an “Alcohol Alert” article that highlights some of the dangerous impacts of alcohol on health. This short research report is worth a read if you wish to learn more about the damaging effects of alcohol on the brain, liver and general health.

Alcohol can produce detectable impairments in memory after only a few drinks and, as the amount of alcohol increases, so does the degree of impairment. Large quantities of alcohol, especially when consumed quickly and on an empty stomach, can produce a blackout, or an interval of time for which the intoxicated person cannot recall key details of events, or even entire events.”

https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa63/aa63.htm

Frankly, whatever impacts our brain, has the ability to impair our cognitive ability, affect our moods, and promote unmanaged stress, anxiety and depression. This should put each and everyone of us on notice. Alcohol consumption “is” a slippery slope. Though maybe not in the most obvious of ways, until it’s too late.

The Irony

Here’s what I find interesting and so ironic. With all the known health risks, some are still fixed on using these mind and nervous system stimulants as a sort of pseudo solution to “take the edge off” in order to cope with life circumstances. Sadly, in an attempt to avoid the difficulties involved in finding, and committing to, healthy practices to manage and wade through life’s winding mire, they opt to go on autopilot. The unfortunate results of these choices, however, include varying degrees of damaging side effects to their overall health and well-being. As a result, it’s best to err on the side of avoidance rather than temperance or moderation. Yet, the hard reality is many have accepted the effects of these substances as a normal way of life.

Things to Control

Nutrition

Some activities in themselves are not bad. They become a problem for us when we don’t know how to find a balance. Let’s look at nutrition, for example. Eating good food is not bad. However, eating too much is termed gluttony, which is bad, and could increase health risks if the habit is not curbed. On the flip side, eating too little can also be termed starving and could also lead to serious health complications. Temperance would be to daily eat and drink the right balance between healthy amounts of nourishment to maintain vibrancy and of course the occasional moments of enjoyment.

Work-Life Balance

Some of us have a hard time finding a balance between work, family and other life activities. The juggle can be brutal when we fill our lives us with multiple high level responsibilities and expectations in achievement. The important thing to note is that, without a way to balance our live activities, this can lead to unmanaged stress. This has been one of the major causes of illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. In addition, understanding stress and its unsuspecting health challenge will help you identify how lifestyle induced stress can become a major cause for the increase in mental dysfunction.

It is important to practice temperance in our daily living to get the best from ourselves and of life as a whole.

How to Practice Temperance Daily

Finding a balance is not always easy but the more we practice the easier it becomes, so it is important to build it in your daily routine. Here are some tips:

• Say no to unhealthy choices
• Practice healthy choices moderately
• Remember I said that temperance covers all other health laws? These all need to be practiced together and in moderation for optimal health.
  • Drink enough water to stay hydrated and healthy.
  • Take every opportunity to get fresh air.
  • Maintain proper nutrition
  • Get enough rest.
  • Engage in an exercise regiment.
  • Get sunlight in moderation.
  • Trust in God for daily guidance and protection. Letting go is never easy but I guarantee you it’s a great stress buster. The good thing is we don’t have to do it alone.

You Can Do It!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23 KJV

So when you notice your body craving something that is not healthy, such as intemperance, push against it with all you have – mind, body and spirit. If you fail, don’t become discouraged and give up. Pick yourself up and learn from your mistakes…keep trying. “Practice makes perfect.”

If you decide to be lackadaisical about keeping your desires in check, instead of achieving your goal of enjoying the fruits of a healthy lifestyle, you may achieve quite the opposite.In order to preserve health, temperance in all things is necessary – temperance in labor, temperance in eating and drinking.

In order to preserve health, temperance in all things is necessary – temperance in labor, temperance in eating and drinking.”

How to Live, pg. 57. (Ellen White). How to Live, pg. 57. (Ellen White).

You can also practice self control over how much stress and strain you put your body through. You should learn to listen to the needs of your body and act in favor of your health. Reading or working all through the night when your body craves sleep is never a good idea.

Here’s a side note for you. For you gym enthusiasts, I know you want to see those gains as soon as possible. Getting ample sleep thereby allowing your body to fully recover in-between intense workouts is a sure fire way to exponentially guarantee faster results.

Final Thoughts

Temperance bolsters healthy living as it serves as the police of the other laws of healthy living. It keeps you in check while obeying the other 7 Natural Laws and helps you achieve all-round stability. Practice moderation in healthy choices and abstain from that which is unhealthy. Try it! You’ll be healthier for it.