Temptation

"We gain the strength of the temptation we resist." ---Ralph Waldo Emerson

The title of this post or at least the word alone can bring many emotions to the surface for each of us. I know that when I am eating healthy and exercising that it seems that all my favorite bad foods are placed before me as if by magic. However, temptation does not only come in the form of food, it comes in all areas of life. Have you ever noticed that when you work diligently to avoid debt, your mailbox is crammed with credit card and special financing offers?

I have many temptations I have to avoid in my life. Yes, it would be nice if I could indulge in my temptations without consequence. However, take for example my love of new vehicles. My beautiful wife asked me the other day how many new vehicles I have purchased in my life. After giving her the answer, she just looked at me and said, Wow! Yes, I must avoid new car dealerships as if they have a horrible plague inside. Indulging in this temptation as I have in the past has led me to have a vehicle payment nearly my entire adult life.

"Lead me not into temptation; I can find the way myself." ---Rita Brown

Another temptation in my life is electronics. I love gadgets and new electronic gadgets. I am like a child at Christmas when it comes to this type of temptation. I obviously avoid electronic stores and while I love them, they are dangerous zones where I waste money and purchase things I do not need. Perhaps I should not even mention Home Depot or Lowes, I am certain that they built these stores to tempt me into browsing the isles and spending money I should not.

While temptation is, some times fun and filled with excitement and the element of the unknown. There are consequences that come with giving in to your temptations. I hope that as we all age we gain wisdom and realize that surrendering to our temptations has a hefty price to pay. No one is above falling for his or her temptations. Even the most disciplined person on Earth is not immune to falling for their temptations. Even the smallest crack in your armor can lead to falling for the tempting weaknesses we all posses.

During my journey of getting healthy, I have had to avoid many temptations. I have been doing very well as of late, but this constant temptation of desiring pizza is ridiculous. Sure, treating yourself now and then can prevent a major derailment on your journey later, but it certainly slows progress. How about other areas of temptation, is it possible to treat yourself now and then in order to prevent a future major derailment? I guess that all comes down to what our temptations are and the type of consequences that come attached. Temptation, it can be fun, exciting, dangerous, harmful, self-defeating and ruinous.

"O mischief, thou art swift to enter in the thoughts of desperate men!" ---William Shakespeare

"Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired." ---Robert Frost

"Fear less; hope more. Eat less; chew more. Talk less; say more. Hate less; love more." ---Abigail Buren