Anything done in excess can be described as gluttonous. Originally, this deadly sin dealt specifically with excessive greed or indulgence as it related to eating and drinking. Now though, we often hear it used to describe excessive indulgence more generally. It can be applied to working, exercising, gambling, sex, drugs, and probably a few things I’m not thinking of at this moment.
But, when do you know that you’ve crossed the line? And more importantly, why should you care?
I came across a great blog article over on First We Feast that offers scientific reasons why we shouldn’t care. Some reasons surprised me, like: bathing in beer is rejuvenating and french fries help with hydration.
That’s all awesome news, but I believe in balance over gluttony. I’m not saying I haven’t had my moments of gluttonous behavior. I’m human, after all. But, I like to believe I’m getting wiser as I age. So, overindulging in anything doesn’t work for me.
I have to admit though, that some results of gluttonous behavior are funny. Like this one:
https://youtu.be/A0kYPvmg4vk
If you haven’t watched one of his routines in its entirety, do! He’s hilarious. And, his descriptions of the types of drunk people are spot on. Many of us have “been there, done that,” at one time or another.
We all have our vices. The trick is establishing and maintaining self-control, and creating new routines. Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of research about habit formation. In fact, just this morning, while listening to “On Second Thought” by Wray Herbert, I learned that research supports the idea that having exposure to our vices actually can help us to resist the temptation longer than if we remove the source. Who knew?
If you’re struggling with gluttonous behavior(s), pick up a copy of (or listen to) “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg. You’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about why we form habits, how to change existing ones, and how to create new ones. I loved listening to this book!
Our gluttonous behavior(s) really comes down to habits we’ve formed that have become automatic.
What behavior(s) do you want to change?
Let’s chat about gluttony and the power of habits in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
