Drink the poison.
Human temptations
- Sex
- Food
- Spiritual. Higher Purpose.
What temptations humans face
From the life I have lived so far, sexual temptation stands as the number one temptation any human experiences. On top of that, dating and the difference in options available to a male or female vary drastically. For people born between 1995 and 2000, the gender ratio is 927 to 933 females per 1,000 males.
This happened because past Indian preferences for a male child led to abortions of female fetuses. On top of that, many families in India make an issue even if you simply talk to a girl, even when there is nothing between the two of you. This adds further frustration and turns the whole subject into a taboo.
1. Sexual temptation
I would say you will not feel tempted if you have a partner who satisfies you sexually. So get married. Do not mess around hurting other people and yourself.
2. Have more
To possess. To buy more. Have more. It could be money, sex, or anything else. As the saying goes, anything consumed beyond the required quantity becomes poison. The main reason is comparison and social validation.
Here is an example. When you sit inside a car, you cannot see how the car looks from the outside, how appealing its design is, the brand logo, the alloy wheels, the LED headlamps. Yet when a large number of people buy a car, the look, design, and brand matter to a great degree. A lot of the time you do not need that fancy car. You simply need a protective shield that is fast, keeps you safe in accidents, and does not wet your shoes when it rains.
This temptation disappears once you become aware of what you actually want and why. Movies, office colleagues, family members with cars, and friends all influence you. If they have it, you feel you should have it too, and preferably better than your peers. That is the only thing that keeps people trapped in the cycle of buying more and more. Do not become a money machine for other people and brands by purchasing everything others are buying, everything celebrities promote, or everything you see in movies and ads. Keep the money for yourself when you can.
3. Triggered temptations that became habitual
I have a friend who started smoking because he was stressed at his job. The stressful situation was his trigger. It led him to begin and then continue the habit of smoking. It could be a group of friends or any situation that started a habit of alcohol, smoking, or something else. Now it has become a daily temptation to fight or fulfill.
Many people struggle with this, and for those who want to quit, willpower alone will not work. The behavior has already become a habit. You need to replace that habit with another habit mindfully. Like chewing gum every time you feel the urge to smoke. There is a good book on habits. You can read Atomic Habits to learn more about quitting the old habit and building a healthy one.
4. Food
Sugary foods, non-veg, and some spicy foods are simply so tasty that you cannot deny overeating. I myself love eating and I often overeat when the food is tasty. I might be a hypocrite here. I think there is nothing wrong with overeating your favorite food once in a while. But daily it becomes a problem.
I would only say one thing: get another healthy habit like going to the gym, running, or taking walks. When you start one healthy habit it creates a ripple effect on your other habits as well. Just start with one and you will collect good habits and become a healthy, wealthy, and lovely person.
5. Extreme Spirituality
Anything in extreme is not good. By extreme I do not mean the true sages, priests, and other genuine religious practitioners. I am talking about people who simply want everyone to believe exactly what they believe, without looking at the other person’s story, where they come from, or showing any empathy. The only thing they want is for you to believe what they believe, live the life they live, and practice the spiritual practices they do.
I would just say God bless them. See humans beyond religion, nationality, and their jobs. Humans are hairless animals in clothes. See their flaws, accept them, and accept people with different thoughts and beliefs. Coexist here on this planet during our limited lifetime, peacefully and in harmony.

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