Most Things in Moderation

Summary

The author acknowledges their struggle with the concept of moderation, recognizing the importance of self-care and the need to balance high personal standards with the acceptance of imperfection.

Abstract

The article "Most Things in Moderation" reflects on the adage of moderation, particularly in the context of self-care. The author admits difficulty in applying moderation, often adopting an extreme approach to diet, exercise, and maintaining a positive outlook. They have previously set unrealistically high goals, leading to a sense of failure when these were not met. The author has come to understand that it's acceptable to indulge occasionally, to exercise for health rather than perfection, and to acknowledge and process negative emotions. They emphasize the importance of giving oneself permission to be imperfect and to rest, recognizing that not all aspects of life require moderation. The author draws a line at certain behaviors, such as hate or self-comparison, which they believe should never be done even in moderation, and expresses a personal aversion to mushrooms based on a family belief.

Opinions

The author believes that holding oneself to unattainable standards can be harmful and lead to a sense of failure.
They advocate for the acceptance of occasional indulgences, like eating chocolate ice cream, as beneficial for the soul.
The author suggests that it's healthy to take breaks from rigorous exercise routines and that one doesn't need to be an Olympic-level athlete to be healthy.
They assert that reflecting on negative feelings is a necessary part of emotional processing and personal growth.
The author emphasizes that some behaviors, such as hate, should never be moderated, as love is always preferable.
They express a personal conviction against eating mushrooms, humorously suggesting they could "take over the world," a belief passed down from their father.

Revisiting a common adage at a time when self-care is critical

I am not very good at the concept of moderation.

For me, it can be really hard not to use an all-or-nothing approach for most areas of my life.

I want to eat healthily all of the time. Any unhealthy food can be replaced with something that will better nourish me.

I want to stay as physically fit as possible. If I am taking the time to go for a run then I should push myself to go farther, faster. And I should try to go for another run a few days after. Get into a routine, continue to improve.

I want to always have a positive outlook on life. There is no need to focus on the negative. In fact, focusing on the negative can be counterproductive, it can hold me back.

These are all paths I have gone down, usually without thinking much about them until I begin to feel strained. Because although my initial intentions may have been good, the result was draining to me. These thought patterns left little room for error. If I wasn’t fully meeting these goals, was I failing?

The answer to this is that I was failing. I was failing myself by holding myself to a standard that was unattainable for me, and could actually be harmful.

It is okay to eat unhealthy foods. A bowl of chocolate ice cream may not have much nutritional value, but it won’t cause me to become malnourished. (And quite frankly, any form of chocolate will definitely nourish my soul even if it doesn’t do much for my body.)

It is okay to not exercise every other day, or push yourself to an ever-higher standard. I may never become an Olympic-caliber athlete, but I will keep my heart, lungs, and limbs healthy.

It is okay to reflect on negative feelings and events. It may slow me down or distract me from other things, but it is healthy to process my emotions, and doing so can help me grow in other ways.

I am not very good at the concept of moderation.

But I am trying to be better.

Because I know that life is better when I give myself room to breathe, to slow down, to take care of all areas of my needs, and to be “imperfect” in ways that give me valuable rest.

Why do I say most things in moderation instead of all things?

Because I know that there are some things I don’t need, and some boundaries that I should keep for myself.

I never want to hate in moderation, because love is always better, even if it’s imperfect.

I never want to compare myself to others in moderation, because I know myself and I know that I’m at my best when I can appreciate others for who they are without viewing myself as less.

And I never want to eat mushrooms in moderation, because my late father once told me that he thought they could take over the world, and part of me still believes him.