“O Arjun, those who eat too much or too little, sleep too much or too little, cannot attain success in Yog,” says Krishna. And from across the centuries, James Allen echoes : “He wants to gratify his taste for rich and unnatural viands and have his health as well. Such a man is totally unfit to have health.” Gluttony, after all, is one of the seven deadly sins. (Thank you, Se7en!)
But don’t worry, we are not going that deep into guilt and punishment today. When it comes to diet, I am always amazed by friends who can effortlessly resist delicious foods, saying a firm “no” to temptation. Is a little indulgence now and then such a crime? Why practice such rigid self-control all the time? And no, they are not immune to double-chocolate-chip brownies at 4 PM on a Friday. Why not yield to temptation, wisely? (Just for fun, of course, don’t try this at home… unless it’s a tiny bite!).
Now consider shopping and discounts, temptation’s playground. Epictetus wisely suggests, “If you meet temptation, use self-control…” These philosophers always talk as if we’re all training to be monks. Let us be practical. If there is a discount, is it even temptation? I say no. There are hundreds of ways to feel smart during a discount sale. Picking the best deal isn’t temptation; it’s strategy. I confess — I’ve bought far too many treats for my pet dog, Hansie. And yes, I know that 50%, 60%, even 90% discounts often magically cost the same. But still, it feels like a smart decision. A tiny win. And sometimes, that’s enough reason to say yes. Hansie approves, I guess!
We have a jasmine plant at home. One day, a new plant started growing beside it — probably from a seed dropped by a bird. Out of curiosity, my dad let it grow. Eventually, it bloomed into a bright sunflower. Unexpected, beautiful, and cheerful. He liked it. We all did. Then, just a few days later, it was gone. Why? I guessed the pot was too small for both, and my dad chose to give space to the jasmine. Maybe he felt a small tug to keep the sunflower too. But he didn’t yield to that temptation. Maybe he weighed the options, saw the imbalance, and quietly chose the one that would thrive better in the long run.
The more I think about temptation, the more I realise we yield to temptation far more often than we admit. But it is not always due to a lack of self-control. Sometimes, we simply don’t recognise the act as temptation. We tell ourselves, “This is normal.” “This is harmless.” “This is deserved.” We justify it, wrap it in practicality, and move on. And that’s how temptation often wins — quietly, disguised as common sense. Sometimes it’s cake. Sometimes it’s a discount. But every now and then, life presents us with a choice: to yield or not to yield. Temptation isn’t always about indulgence. Sometimes, it’s the quiet desire to hold on to something unnecessary. The sunflower was lovely — but maybe it just didn’t belong there.
Anyway, I shall tempt you to go ahead and yield to temptation — occasionally, joyfully, and knowingly. Just make sure it’s you making the choice, not the craving. It’s about being present and intentional, understanding what truly serves you, and when a small, conscious indulgence can simply add a little sparkle to your day.
Comments