Human things that remain unattended inevitably degrade, dilute and dissolve.
That is true of objects, relationships, ideas, bodies and life trajectories.
Balance needs to be maintained, the steering cannot be random, care and concerned appraisal are vital to continuity of existence and practice - here we distinguish between freedom and abandon or neglect.
With experience comes a more subtle clarity of who we are, what we were born to become.
While we want to wait and see what life makes of us, we find that through looking in, examining our life, we have the opportunity to practice being true to form, to ourselves and our purpose, as the method to eventually live through each moment with integrity.
The way it's always been done isn't necessarily the best way.
In seeking balance and sustainable ways of living, we don't just add more rules, we also let go of old habits, of what doesn't serve us. We find our own way.
It is not rebellion though, or rejection of tradition or family legacy. It is about experience and honest appraisal of what works. Traditions remain alive when they stay fresh and young.
Patience, restraint and discernment are surer ways to achieve something.
The endeavour to balance, moderate, measure, aims to afford the long run, make the situation stable or sustainable.
It is not a cry for perfection, for never making a mistake, for avoiding pain. It is not a warning to be cautious or doubtful, or a reason to stop trying and seeing what is out there.
Control means steadiness, it is a condition to be able to exert bravery.
A lot of our figuring out life is a game of hot and cold, whereby joy is hot - right direction, and pain is cold - off track.
Yet, through pain may be the way to joy, and avoidance of pain keeps us stagnant. Making mistakes is always better than doing nothing. Disappointment is the ultimate teacher, if we choose to accept our fate and take in the lesson.
The next turn holds joy, and now, we know to recognise it and take it in.
The alignments and moderation seek to protect an equitable relationship, support a safe space, where mutual respect and investment support deeper intimacy.
Equitable giving and receiving is the basis for a healthy relationship.
The sweet spot between too much and not enough is where we want to be.
This is the meaning of moderation, self-control, pacing our self and all these boring things adults do.
In this magical space, the overall experience is optimal rather than maximal, the cost of pleasure is rightful and won’t hold regret, and each moment belongs to an open-ended choreography, whereby each of our moves is conscious and harmonious.
Those ideas we have about what things should be, who we should be, are traps.
They keep us stuck in old, unrefined views, that impede growth and the natural course of life.
Not only it is exhausting, it is also narrow-minded, running under some delusion that the best and right and been attained and that we are tasked to maintain against the vicissitudes of life.
The delusion keeps us from being in service to the truth of our potential, the reality of this moment.
Measuring
Limitation
Boundaries