Brahmacharya is the 4th yama and is translated as celibacy. Most of us in the modern world who are not devoted to a monastery are not celibate. So this one can also be considered to be self-control. With a moderate and balanced lifestyle, prana (life force, breath, energy) becomes boundless. Prana is like money; it needs to flow and cycle, otherwise it gets hoarded or wasted, or in debt and ultimately leads to imbalance. Where do you "spend" your energy? Do you go into "debt" in your energy reserves?

Energy is attained through self-control. This sutra is particular of sexual energy, or perhaps just sense pleasures, because when sensory pleasures are the sole motivating factor of one's life, then there is no real freedom. Self-control is not to restrain enjoyment of pleasure, but to enhance it. Discipline is freeing. I've said to myself after a big night out that I'm never drinking again! But that never works. When I finally quit drinking spirits and stuck to wine and beer, it felt a lot more moderate and then I could actually enjoy some drinks without feeling self-loathing by what I had done to myself. I've said the same about chocolate too. So rather than a rejection of what wastes our energy, we just need a healthy disengagement.

A lack of control leads to despair, dejection, and depression, but if our energy is controlled with discipline and boundaries, then we can free our mind to higher levels of thinking which are not all-consuming, punitive, or abusive. How do we actually walk this fine line? What is the process?

By bringing awareness and intentionality to our habits that serve or deplete us, we can figure out what we need to create balance. I used to not be able to eat just a bit of chocolate and save the rest for later, I had to eat it all! I don't' know where I heard of the concept, but I remember eating a bag of M&M's really slowly with awareness for a long time rather than stuffing down the whole bag. It ended up tasting disgusting and metallic. I was using the M&M's to cover up other uncomfortable feelings, but as soon as I decided to conscioulsy eat them and listen to my body, I realised I didn't like them at all and I gained a sort of power over my actions. Intention and awareness is key to self control.

Our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual layers of ourselves need to be in balance to be in good health. Is balance a juggling act on a tight rope line above a cliff? Or is like standing in the middle of a playground seesaw and leaning side to side? Depends on how you frame it and how much pressure you feel about balance. The more we can seek balance without stressing about that balance, the more easy life feels.

Self-control means that we manage our inner resources wisely so we can be efficient at what we do and direct attention to what is needed most and ultimately in line with our potential.... yes that is quite challenging amidst the distracting allure of all things on the internet.

If you overdo something, like overthinking or overworking or overanalysing, then you just prime yourself for the behaviours you wish to avoid.

If you under-do something, like neglecting your own self-care or your relationships, then that energy gets stagnant.

Reflect:

What do you take for granted?

Where do you energetically or spiritually "whore" yourself? (A term from Anna Forest)

Are your relationships respectful? Not just with other humans, but with your work, your eating, your home and environment ...etc.