Live well, live moderately: it’s important to stay balanced

As we strolled into the wintry St. John’s woods, I pondered, “How difficult can this be?” From the upperclassmen, rumors were rampant—would we be chopping down trees with axes, hand-sawing them into logs or hauling those logs through the woods with rope?

Back in 1989, Johnnie and Bennies had J-term, a month of elective study. One option for Johnnies was to be a “Monk for a Month.” A key aspect of that course, in accordance with the Rule of St. Benedict, was dedicating part of each day to manual labor.

As it turned out, the labor wasn’t difficult—we gathered smaller branches from the large fallen trees and piled them up for the next step in harvesting.

The work was brisk, mindless and rhythmic, which allowed for a peaceful meditation in the quiet woods as snow muffled the sounds around us.

Later that day, we practiced lectio divina, or “divine reading,” which involves reading while listening to God and remaining open to God’s influence.

As I fell asleep, I was struck by the sense of peace from a daily balance of work, thought and prayer that nourished the body, mind and soul. “All things are to be done with moderation.” R.B. 48

Fast forward 36 years, and I am struck by how the Benedictine value of moderation influences several aspects of my life: relationships, business, volunteering and hobbies. Practicing moderation leads to balance and the potential for multifaceted success and happiness.

In a great book called “The 5 Love Languages,” Gary Chapman describes several ways people find fulfillment in relationships. One of those ways is “quality time.” What do you do when you or several people around you—parents, friends, a spouse or significant other and children—are most fulfilled by quality time? You can’t do it all, all the time, so one effective way to manage your quality time is to balance your time between those you fulfill and those who fulfill you.

I also see how moderation in business (or any organization, for that matter) creates sustainable success. I help organizations develop new products for customers. One can’t focus on speed to market at the expense of quality, profits at the expense of customer satisfaction or productivity at the expense of employee engagement. Moderation is essential for long term success, often reflected in a business’s internal “balanced scorecard,” which comprehensively monitors business health.

I hope you’re enjoying your time at CSB+SJU. Please know that the fun doesn’t have to end after graduation. I enjoy various hobbies, like maintaining my 150-gallon freshwater aquarium, spending time with my lively Labrador and dabbling in photography.

In my spare time, I also like to perform with a rock-and-roll band. I find joy in volunteering my photography and music skills for local organizations, including my church.

While I love these activities, I sometimes realize they can take over my time and budget more than I intend. When that happens, I know it’s a good idea to step back and find some balance. After taking a break—a little moderation—I often feel reenergized and ready to dive back into the things I love with a fresh perspective.

Let’s bring this closer to home. I’m sure you’ve all felt the pressures of academics, athletics and club involvement. Sometimes, that pressure is so overwhelming that it takes effort to breathe.

I’d argue that pressure indicates a lack of moderation between self-care and social commitments. When that happens, it’s okay to say “No” or “Later” and give yourself some self-care.

As you age, those pressures will intensify—career and family, hobbies, times of birth and death, job changes and home improvements and sometimes disaster. Use the Benedictine value of moderation to help you survive the extremes of pleasure and pain, make better decisions, create organizational success and live an enduring version of your best self.