5 Steps to Fight the Temptation to do Wrong
Temptation: noun;
strong urge or desire to have or do something wrong, unwise or forbidden especially
when you are not supposed to.
Temptation usually comes to us every day and in different
forms. The worst of it is when the urge is to do something bad. Temptations to
do something bad can be triggered by any of the following:
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Anger
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Jealousy
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Revenge
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Lust
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Hatred
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Strong belief
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Mischievousness
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To forget other memories
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Pleasure and so much more.
Note how most of the reasons to do bad have a negative
connotation to them. The urge to do wrong reveal the violent conflict within us
which is can prove hazardous for emotional safety if not controlled. The urge
to do wrong can also be harmful to the recipient and any related person which
puts the safety of the other person at risk.
What’s wrong with doing something bad, you may ask. The
simple answer is doing something bad has negative effects not only on the
individual doing wrong but also on the society at large. Even the smallest of
wrongs has consequences that always follow that action. We certainly don’t want
to be the ones to set off a chain of wrongs, do we?
5 Steps to Beat the Temptation To Do Wrong
1 IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE
What is the temptation and what is causing it? By understanding
the root cause of your situation from each side of the story you become more
self-aware. Being self-aware will help you create more informed decisions not
only in the given situation but also in your future decision making.
2 ASK FOR HELP
If you find your temptation too difficult to resist, ask for
help. You can seek the counsel of a trusted loved one, counselor or a support
group. Be sure that the person you are asking for help is not indulging in the
same bad temptation that you are trying to fight. However, if they have had the
same temptation and overcame, ask them how they did it.
3 PRACTICE DIALOGUE
Talking has therapeutic elements to it, especially if you
speak to the right person. If you have no one to talk to, create a video log in
which you will pour out your true emotions and feelings. Write about how you
feel, then after a week or two or more, read and see what you think about what
you wrote. Be sure to keep your vlog or diary in a safe place if you don’t want
anyone to read it.
Do not keep bottled up emotions as they will find other ways
of expression which may not prove to be healthy in the end. If someone has
offended you, talk to them about it and avoid spreading gossip.
Also practice forgiveness in order to heal your emotions. Forgive
yourself and forgive others.
4 CULTIVATE A DEMANDING GOOD HOBBY
It is nice to develop a hobby but if the hobby is not
demanding enough, your mind will still drift back to your temptation. There is
a saying an idle mind is the devils workshop. Certainly, if you do not engage
in a good activity that is always demanding your attention, then you could
easily think of a way to feed your temptation.
For those who believe in God, praying and worshipping can
prove helpful; become active in your church activities or join the choir.
However, if your given temptation is to not go to church and you feel bad about
it, talk to an understanding adult and stand for what you believe in only if
you see that it has good results.
5 THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES
Every action has a reaction. It’s science. Sometimes we may
feel that our actions cannot possibly come back, especially those times when we
did good and did not see any good in return. Every good you do counts, no
matter how small. Just as every bad, no matter how small.
Imagine that you have given into your temptation to do bad.
What will be your immediate reaction when you do it? How will you feel a day
later? What about a week later or 5 years? Who is getting hurt in the process?
Are you getting hurt in the process?
Have you practiced any of the above four steps?
The golden rule: Do not do to others what you wouldn’t want
to done to you or a loved one. So whenever tempted to do something wrong, do
something good.
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