Enough is Enough: How Can Practicing Restraint Improve Clarity and Focus?

"Do not renounce anything, for whoever renounces something withers in it. But neither should you become a slave to your desires.

To creep along burdened with stifled passions is as bitter as to be ground down among passions let loose.

If you indulge your desires, they will mate and multiply.

If you kill your desires, they will return as ghosts.

If you tame your desires, you can harness them,

And with dragons you may plough and sow, like perfect power itself."

These are the words from one my favourite Hungarian poets, Sándor Weöres, capturing the essence of taming desire. What he describes echoes one of the five yamas, or ethical observances, in yoga philosophy: brahmacharya, often translated into English as non-excess, or 'the middle path of restraint'.

Literally, it means “walking towards God”, suggesting that it is a key step toward spiritual growth.

Restraint is not just a yogic concept. Hieronymus Bosch’s early 16th-century painting, 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' explores the fragility of happiness and a moral warning against worldly indulgence

From Renunciation to Right Use of Energy

Traditionally, brahmacharya was meant to encourage those involved in the practice of yoga to conserve their sexual energy, in favour of using that energy to further progress along the Yogic path.

The broader and more lenient interpretation of this concept emphasises the general need of self-control an moderation in our actions.

Managing sensory cravings

The world is full of amazing experiences, which are quite often constructed to invite overindulgence, and even cause a kind of addiction.

When did watching the evening news become "doom-scrolling"?

How did the occasional movie night turn into "binge-watching"?

Why do we have a tendency to "supersize" meal sizes?

While a craving normally starts with the aim to satisfy a physical need, it is often related to a story spun up by your mind. As we begin to peel ourselves out of our web of excess, we learn to distinguish between these two.

When a craving arises, pause and ask yourself: What do I really need?

• Am I bingeing this new show because I do not want to face my current reality?

• Am I overeating because I in fact need emotional nourishment and love?

• Am I pushing myself too hard because I am insecure and need external re-assurance of my worth?

Conservation and Redirection of Vital Energy

Instead of getting lost in fruitless distractions, practicing brahmacharya as 'the right use of energy' redirects our energy towards meaningful pursuits. It reduces distractions and helps one focus on what is most important in life: creative projects, service, leadership, or simply being more present in our relationships.

In a world where instant gratification is the norm, practicing self-control is ever more difficult, yet necessary.

The key is not complete abstinence but moderation and balance. Knowing when enough is enough.

How to practice brahmacharya?

• Regularly rest your senses. Give your body and mind a break to recover and reset. This can be a period of fasting (with juices or kitchari), observing silence, digital detox, or temporary celibacy.

• Eat with awareness. The golden rule of eating, as prescribed by ayurveda and other holistic systems for healthy living, is to only eat until you are 80% full. This supports a healthy digestion and cultivates gratitude for nourishment.

• Avoid overworking. True productivity arises from clarity and rest, not constant busyness.

• Limit your screentime. Guard your mental space as carefully as you do your calendar.

• Honour simplicity. Choose quality over quantity in possessions, commitments, and even relationships.

How will your leadership benefit from this practice?

• Greed gives way to compassion and selflessness.

• It enhances concentration and productivity by reducing distractions.

• Controlling the wasteful habits of the senses, especially over food helps in keeping one's physical vitality and mental energy.

• Brahmacharya promotes relations full of respect, and mindfulness through self-control, more emotional maturity, and an understanding of deeper connections.

Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful week ahead.

The light in me honours the light in you.

Namaste