Category: HABITS

(Translation into most languages at tab to the right)

I have been thinking about temptation recently and how differently we each respond when we face something that is hard for us to resist. How do we resist something that is alluring and that we have repeatedly succumbed to in the past? Something that we are addicted to like lying or shoplifting, alcohol or drugs, gossip or gambling, social media or overeating? The list of behaviors that can derail our lives in one way or the other is endless. It’s not just how an addiction can cause us harm, but also how it can debilitate or destroy our relationships, that makes learning how to beat temptation important.

So, when we are tempted to indulge in our pet addiction, what do we do? 

I read an article on Medium about temptation and willpower that supports the thoughts I’ve held throughout my life. Riikka Iivanainen (1) confesses that she has high self-control and discusses her research into why some people succeed at resisting temptation while others don’t. 

She says, High self-control does predict many positive life outcomes: People who’re good at self-control do better in school, have fewer mental health problems, have better relationships with friends and family, and generally exhibit fewer impulsive behaviors like binge eating and alcohol abuse. They’re even happier.

From the many scientific studies she researched, she goes on to say, Having good self-control doesn’t mean a constant battle against temptations. The kind of self-control that gets you all those good outcomes is more effortless than what’s commonly suggested by the term’s “willpower” and “self-discipline.”

Psychologists tell us that constantly resisting temptation is exhausting and will soon leave us with ego-depletion. Relying on self-control in the face of temptation is destined to fail. So what kind of self-control is “more effortless”? Riikka says, The people who reported fewer problematic desires and less conflict related to those desires were good at avoiding temptation, not resisting it.

Isn’t this insight what the basis of what most recovery programs are built upon? The acronym HALT is a tool to remind us to take a moment and avoid temptation by being aware of the primary things that can lead us to it: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. We are susceptible to self-destructive behaviors, temptations, and relapse when these basic human needs are unmet. HALT is a reminder, an early warning system. Being self-aware helps us recognize our needs and address them in a positive way before turning to harmful habits or destructive people.

Hungry – being hungry can be physical or emotional hunger

Angry – being angry at someone else or at yourself

Lonely – being lonely can be while in a crowd or from self-isolation

Tired – being tired affects our body, mind, and spirit

Some ways to deal with these needs is the subject of my Opiate Nation blog post April 14, 2018, H.A.L.T. https://opiatenation.com/2018/04/14/h-a-l-t/

We need to know ourselves and be honest about what our problematic desires are and avoid them rather than flirt with them. Desires are matters of the heart and we need to do all we can to support the healthy, life-affirming desires we have. I’ll end with pertinent insights from some of my favorite sources: 

There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice.(2)

Strength comes prior to temptation, not during it. Overcoming is a prior act. It involves making a decision to remain pure before the temptation comes. (3)

Rather than waiting for temptation to raise its inevitable head and struggling to resist it, researchers at the University of Wyoming say it’s more effective to plan in advance to manage those temptations with well-thought-out self-control strategies. (4)

It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them. (5)

Paul repeatedly told the early Christians in their very pagan cultures to “flee” temptation. (6)

Learning takes us through many states of life, but it fails utterly in the hour of danger and temptation. Then faith alone saves. (7)

But for persons needlessly to expose themselves to temptation, and to do those things that tend to sin, is unwarrantable, and contrary to that excellent example set before us. (8)

Jesus showed us by example when we are confronted with unavoidable temptation to speak the truth in order to help us resist until we are able to escape. (9)

Temptations, of course, cannot be avoided, but because we cannot prevent the birds from flying over our heads, there is no need that we should let them nest in our hair. (10)

1. https://riikkaiivanainen.medium.com/the-secret-life-of-people-with-high-self-control-its-easier-than-you-think-7dd26fb5282c
2. Mark Twain
3. The Mind of Christ by T.W. Hunt & Claude V. King, 1990
4. https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/cravings/201911/4-ways-avoid-temptation-and-reach-your-goals
5. Benjamin Franklin
6. I Corinthians 10:14; I Timothy 6:11; II Timothy 2:22
7. Mahatma Gandhi, Mohandas Gandhi, Homer A. Jack (2005). “The Wit and Wisdom of Gandhi”, p.40, Courier Corporation
8. Jonathan Edwards, https://www.biblebb.com/files/edwards/temptation.htm
9. Matthew 4:1-11
10. Martin Luther