Why “Everything In Moderation” Usually Fails

Looking at my life, I try to live balanced (maybe seen as moderate). I balance time with my wife, my kids, my family and my friends. Balanced doesn’t mean even. At this time in my life, our kids need (and demand) more attention and time. So I give them more time to them than to others. I try to balance exercise and recreation. I try to balance the use of my money, my investments and my giving.

In some ways moderation may be seen to work well. But does it really? In the examples I gave above, I am balancing things that are all good. I try to carefully consider the things that are beneficial, helpful, and healthy for me and for others. What if I decide to “balance” the things in my life with other things that are bad. Would that be wise?

Let’s say I decide to balance my time spent with family, and begin hanging out with drug-dealing terrorists? Is that good use of my time? By no means. What if I choose to use some of my money to support a organization that preaches hate and violence. That would be horrible! Some things are not good in moderation… Is cocaine okay in moderation? How about smoking cigarettes? What about coffee? How about doughnuts? Would you allow your own child even a small bit of something you know would harm him?

As you can see, the concept of “everything in moderation” can fail miserably. It fails if you don’t understand what is good and what is bad. This can be especially true in regard to foods. And on the flip side of the coin, you can even overindulge in things that are good if you’re not careful. So what can you do?

The strategy I use and recommend is fairly simple. It’s called Temperance… abstain from the things you know are bad, and use moderation in the things that are good.

A good, consistent, and balanced life can come about as you learn what things are good and what are bad. In regard to health, you need to learn what things promote superior health. Superior health can only be achieved when superior ideas are applied… and they become superior behaviors.

The wellness strategy of Temperance may seem extreme in our society, but it works.