Temptation is Best Dealt with Proactively
Our Brains are easily tempted. Despite our laudable intentions, short-term pleasure becomes attractive at the expense of long-term fulfillment. So we must consciously address temptation before she presents herself if we want to win long-term games. The key is being proactive rather than reactive.
Odysseus' victory over the Sirens is the blueprint for defeating temptation. The Sirens were "creatures from Greek mythology which enticed sailors to their destruction with their irresistibly beautiful singing." Odysseus ordered his crew to clog their ears with wax and tie him up to the mast of the ship as they approached the sirens. In range of the charming voices, Odysseus squirmed and pleaded to break free. Instead, Odysseus was rendered immobile by his foresight and saved from temptation. Had he waited until he could already hear the sirens, he would have been toast. It pays to address temptations before they arrive.
Example from real life:
When I was living in Croatia, I became addicted to a type of pastry called burek (It’s a savory pie). For weeks, I innocently left for my morning walk and somehow ended up a patron of a bakery. One day, I started to leave my wallet at home. Within days of “tying myself to the mast”, I was cured and enjoying a renewed sense of autonomy.
Possible places to implement:
Time management, money, food, alcohol, investments, relationships, social media, cell phone addiction, etc.
Thank you for reading my first post. I hope you enjoyed it.