Understanding Moderation
Moderation: 1375-1425; late Middle English moderacion Latin moderation —
the quality of being moderate and avoiding extremes; a change for the better; the trait of avoiding excesses; the action of lessening in severity or intensity.
WordNet 3.0 | © 2006 by Princeton University.
Moderation: Moderation is the process of eliminating or lessening extremes. It is used to ensure normality throughout the medium on which it is being conducted.
Wikipedia
- Moderation is regulation — striving for 'normalcy'.
- Moderation is showing control — in the form of restraint.
- Moderation is balance — avoiding extremes and excesses.
- Moderation is easing — of severity or intensity.
- Moderation is change — for the better.
Benefits of Moderation
- Moderation provides steadiness — a mid-point without too much or too little.
- Moderation provides definition — outlining, properly and with regulation.
- Moderation provides boundaries — limits thereby avoiding excess and extremes.
- Moderation provides alterations — changing for the better.
- Moderation provides leveling — yielding equality.
Acts of Moderation in Everyday Life
- The Bible — Every owner of a field was commanded to allocate a portion of his land's produce in support of those who served God.
- Weight Loss Plans — Trying to undue the harm of eating to excess involves hundreds of thousands of people and is a billion dollar industry.
- Slow and Steady — Develop and maintain a steady pace.
- Financial Choices — The current world economic situation would not exist if people of influence would value moderation above personal greed.
- Positive Parenting — Encouraging healthful snacks and reasonable portions, rather than 'family style' meals, help children learn at an early age having 'enough' is a good thing.
Methods for Achieving Moderation
- Embrace variety — Having lots of things to do, helps divide time in a way that avoids excess for anything.
- Planned Balance — Break goals into different aspects of life. Keep yourself well-rounded and divide efforts evenly.
- Avoid Extremes and Excess — Seek the middle of the road.
- Strive for Consistency — Remain present to the journey itself, keep showing up.
- Learn to Pace Yourself — Pay particular attention and respect to your inner tempo, nurture it, live true to it.
Golden Mean
Quotes for Moderation
- Power exercised with violence has seldom been of long duration, but temper and moderation generally produce permanence in all things.
- - Seneca -
- Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.
- - Saint Augustine -
- Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.
- - Joseph Hall -
Recommended Reading
A Life in Balance: Nourishing the Four Roots of True Happiness
Dr. Kathleen Hall has written a wonderful self-help book in which she draws on a variety of techniques to reach her readers and help them gently begin moving in the direction of happiness and fulfillment. Well worth the read.
Life Lessons For Women: 7 Essential Ingredients for a Balanced Life
Canfield of Chicken Soup fame has put together a wonderful self-help book with some exceptional, hands-on techniques that women will not only love, but find super doable to help them bring happiness and balance into their lives. In the tradition of Chicken Soup books, the stories are great as they tie into various practical aspects of enrichment.
General Rules
Practice virtues daily so that they become ‘habits of the heart’.
Don‘t strive for perfection.
Never give up! Remember: even the greats have off days.
Rely on your intuition.
Avoid extremes. Strive to achieve the golden mean between excess and deficiency of a virtue.
Have fun and enjoy the program with humor and optimism.