⚖️ TEMPERANCE
“Temperance is emotional courage. It’s strength under guidance.” – Unknown
Temperance is the practice of balance with intention. It’s choosing enough instead of too much, the pause instead of the outburst, the steady path instead of the spike. In the ADHD terrain—where extremes are common and impulses run strong—temperance is not about restriction. It’s about restraint with wisdom.
For ADHDers, temperance might feel unnatural at first. The brain loves stimulation, urgency, novelty. But living this value means learning when to slow down, when to wait, when to not say or do the first thing that flares up. It means giving yourself space between the spark and the action.
Temperance is not about denying desire. It’s about choosing what serves your deeper values, not just your current cravings. It’s the breath between anger and reaction. The decision to stop scrolling. The calm voice in the chaos saying, “This isn’t who I want to be.”
And perhaps most importantly, temperance also applies to self-talk. It’s speaking to yourself with moderation instead of criticism, resisting the urge to over-apologise, overcommit, or overperform. It’s holding steady in storms, not by force, but through centered alignment.
🧭 The HOPE Trail Map
- Helps or Harms: Is this urge helping me move toward my values—or pulling me away?
- Own My Values: I want to be someone who chooses with clarity, not just reacts with speed.
- People and Pursuits: Who models emotional steadiness I admire? What practices help me find the pause before I act?
- Enact and Evaluate: Today, I’ll pause before reacting—and ask, “What choice honours who I want to be?”
⚠️ Trail Challenges
- ADHD impulsivity may override pause and reflection.
- Emotional intensity may fuel reactivity or extremes.
- Self-judgment may arise when temperance is misunderstood as suppression.
🪧 Trail Markers: Small Steps Toward Temperance
- Use a physical cue (e.g., hand to heart) to pause before replying in conflict.
- Set a time limit before indulging an impulse (“If I still want this in 10 minutes…”).
- Practice saying “Let me think about it” instead of “yes” or “no” immediately.
🔥 Campfire Questions for Reflection
- Where might a pause help me reclaim my power?
- What does it feel like to choose restraint—not from fear, but from strength?
- How can I use temperance to shape a life that’s not just fast, but true?
Temperance is not about shrinking who you are—it’s about choosing how to move, so your power doesn’t burn you out, but builds you up.
