I wrote earlier that everyone should develop a hobby over time. Sometimes that advice can lead to a different problem - OCB or obsessive-compulsive behaviour. For example, if a person decides to try golf as a hobby, it may develop into an uncontrollable passion. Golfing for recreation is a good thing: needing to golf in sun, wind, and rain almost every day is a compulsion that is not good. Rather than acquiring a hobby a person has become an extremist. I maintain that extremism is not good in any arena for anyone.
Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers, says that anyone can master a skill with 10,000 hours of practice. That is a pretty extreme commitment and yet some people are driven to try. Jim Fixx, was an American is credited with helping start America's fitness revolution by popularizing the sport of running and demonstrating the health benefits of regular jogging. He ran daily and yet died of a heart attack at age 52. I think that is a tragic commentary on not balancing his hobby with some common sense. Moderation might have prevented his death.
During my life, I have encountered all kinds of examples of behaviour that makes a case for moderation in everything. People who go on strict fitness routines or strict diets often experience major negative results from their compulsion. Both regular exercise and intelligent food choices are wonderful practices if done in a balanced fashion.
We however have been living in a world of excess. Many people get swept up in a "keep score" mentality. How many miles did I run? How many calories did I consume? How many shoes do I have? How many hours did I work? How many dollars did I make? These answers can all lead to unnecessary excess and the reason is often not very sound nor convincing.
A happy life is often reflected in people who demonstrate a balance in all aspects of their lives. Unhappiness can often be attributed to an excessive habit or practise that twists their world out of orbit. Make moderation in everything a life goal!
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