How far is too far out?
How high is too high up?
No matter how much I like to philosophize in my head on limitations, the practical reality is that they suck, even though there may be great wisdom behind them.
I've read some people mentioned that limitations were created so that infinity could breathe. Infinity is a clean, uncorrupted and full state compared to finity, which is mostly embedded with the chaos principle. Such statement makes me wonder on which precedes which? Is limitations the cause of chaos or is chaos that gives birth to limitations?
One of these great wisdom that's behind limitations is moderation, as in limitations teach us when or where to draw the line, to know our optimal boundaries and sustainable limits.
For myself, my earliest memory of moderation is in early childhood. Every now and then, one of my parents will bring a cookie box from Maersk company, which was a gift of their customership. I wanted to eat mine in one go, on one sitting. But my mum refused and instead said I'll only eat one cookie per day.
Being stubborn with my mum is like playing with tactical fire, you'll get burnt numerous times before seeing yourself turn into a pile of ashes. I was better off accepting her order, which is what I did after few rebellion campaigns on my end.
What was really telling of that experience, especially looking back at it now from a much better point of view, is I had to fight with this "inner quality" that always wants to have its own way with everything.
In the present moment, this inner quality is still present, but its voltage has been reduced quite a lot. Unlike old habits, inner qualities don't die hard but I think they can be transfigured into another quality.
If I could put a label on this inner quality mentioned earlier, then it will probably be the impulsive desire for immediate gratification. Now, it is something that's increasingly prevalent in our modern world.
But interestingly enough for me, the same energy that made me want to devour all cookies now fuels my ability to plan and optimize resources.
I think it's fascinating how our primal drives don't vanish but rather mature, like wild horses being trained for purposeful rides.
Assuming that moderation is a "meta quality", you could say the cookie box experience was one of the first moments I also learn about patience(just wait for the next day to arrive), restraint(controlling the urge to consume all cookies at once), discipline(following the one-cookie-pay day rule) and other related qualities.
I think patience, restrain and discipline are all ways or forms to practice moderation. They're like branch offshoots of the moderation tree, if that makes sense.
A most surprising aspect is how moderation itself requires moderation. Sometimes situations call for going all-in, breaking usual patterns. Which seems totally contrary to what moderation represents.
But I think the wisdom in this regard is in knowing when to hold steady with your limits and when to transcend them.
That cookie box lesson wasn't really about cookies. It was about learning to read the rhythm of life and responding appropriately, whether that means holding back or leaping forward.
Thanks for reading!! Share your thoughts below on the comments.
