There are times when you just suddenly see yourself doing what you should normally have not done, while evading what you need to do. More often than not, a lot of people have fallen into temptations that they never imagined and most times, they regret their actions but cannot edit the past. The truth is that temptation does not carry a tag that it is temptation and might come subtly through one's earnest desired or as a result of sheer lust. Even though you may not be able to stop temptations from coming, but you can actually overcome them and put them to check. Here, we shall take a look at how to effectively overcome and put temptation to check.
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The first step is to discover what normally predisposes you to falling into doing what is regretable. There may be what you will read, where you go, people that you stay with, etc, they may lead you into temptation. When you have discovered this, then it will become easier to overcome. One of the things I have come to realise is that a very potent way to overcome temptation is by staying clear of what can lead you into it. You have to understand your limitations and your weaknesses and also know that you are not invincible. When you realise this, you will know when to stay and confront an issue and when you run from it.
A friend of mine shared with me about his addiction of smoking and how it started. He had some friends who, whenever he visited them, they will be smoking and they will force him to smoke. However, he needed to stop but each time he comes in their company, he will still join them. I simply advised him to change those his friends who lure him into smoking. He did and after a few months, he confirmed to me that he no longer feels the need to smoke and has not have a stick of weed in months. In order to overcome the temptation, he simply avoided what will trigger it. When you have stopped a process, then you have already terminated the product.
Another way to put temptation to check is by staying accountable for yourself and for others. When you know you are responsible for your actions and you will be held accountable for it, then you will make the right choices. If you see anyone who is not accountable or answerable to anyone, then fear the person because they can do and undo. When you know that your result is a function of your actions and inactions, you will not allow yourself to act unwholesomely. In your office, if you are accountable to someone and you know that you will be answerable for your expenses, for example, you will not fall into the temptation to embezzle public funds. To overcome temptation, get responsible and accountable for your actions.
The next one is to have a mentor, a good friend, or someone whose life is worthwhile, who will support you to make the right and better choices. I remember while growing up, some of the good things I learnt about life and morals were because of my connection with a family friend whose father was a priest. Each time I visited them, he would be teaching us things from the Holy Book and how to live morally right, which also has positive effect on other aspects of life. Those teachings helped me to discern between good and bad and to make a choice of good. Of course, with a choice of good, there are things I will not be found doing, and certain temptations I will put to check.
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The next way to put temptation in check is to engage in positive and worthy activities. Some of these temptations have their root in bad thoughts, which are conceived by the idle mind. But when you are busy doing something positive and getting yourself preoccupied with something beneficial, you will not have time to conceive unwholesome thoughts. This is why I normally tell people that if you see yourself brooding over the wrong thoughts, do not just counter them with right thoughts but with right actions - get yourself busy with something meaningful that will help to distract you from the wrong thoughts so that you will keep temptation at bay.
The last point is to build up yourself. There are some temptations that you will never fall into if you have built up yourself and developed your capacity. Develop yourself mentally, physically, and even financially to ward off some temptations. The more you build yourself up, the more you discover that what you have been afraid of will begin to fear you.
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