I've been treating myself very well lately, thinking that there will be no price to pay. Those late evening bowls of carmel turtle fudge ice cream with a handful of Oreos have resulted in a collection of pudge around my middle. I tried to believe that I could eat how much of whatever I felt like and there would be no consequence.
Don't most of us try this at least once in our life?
I don't have to exercise...
What and where I spend time on the web is my business, and besides, it doesn't hurt anyone...
Taking supplies home from the office isn't really stealing. They have so much and will never miss it anyway...
My (husband/wife) is being completely unreasonable about my friendship with _____. We're just really good friends and I can talk with (him/her) about anything...
I really need a new pair of shoes. Well, maybe not need, but I certainly deserve them. Just a little extra on my credit card after a month of cutting back is a reasonable expense...
See how easy it is to talk yourself into choices that seem like freedom? Trouble is, there is no such thing as complete freedom. Compromising on areas that we've made gray from black and white only brings us closer to the edge of bad behavior.
Will there be a price to pay? Sure. Always. Because Newton's Law of Physics ("For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction") applies to life as well. Some consequences are bigger than others. That "harmless" friendship with a friend of the opposite sex may result in a marriage in jeopardy. That is obviously bigger than a few pinches around the middle from overindulging, yet too often we try to convince ourselves into thinking we'll get away with it.
Enter the answer, unpleasant though it may feel: DISCIPLINE. Have you ever felt the victory of telling yourself "no" and then making yourself obey? And the more you succeed in listening to wisdom and restraint, the more you increase actual freedom. Boundaries give us safety that complete abandon cannot.
I've learned a great deal from reading the book of Proverbs in the Bible. Since there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, I just look which day of the month I'm on and read that chapter. How's this for wisdom: "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."
Where do you find it most difficult to tell yourself "no"? What consequences have taught you the benefit of being disciplined?
Posted on
Monday, July 7, 2008
by Gloria Ruppel