How avoiding the temptation of delicious food, shopping, and other pleasures can change your life.

There are two factors that contribute to an increase in life satisfaction among individuals who limit themselves compared to those who indulge in everything they desire.

Any connoisseur will tell you that real tea or coffee flavor doesn't require sugar. The same can be said about life. When you overload yourself with an excess of pleasures and distractions, the sharpness of simple things is lost. To bring brightness back into life, it is sometimes necessary to temporarily abstain from excess.

Confirmation of this thesis comes from an experiment conducted by researchers Quoidbach and Dunn and published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. Chocolate lovers were divided into three groups. The first group was given the opportunity to consume chocolate in large quantities, the second group was allowed to include chocolate in their diet without any restrictions, and participants in the third group were completely forbidden from consuming it. After a week-long experiment, participants were offered a piece of chocolate to taste, and then they had to evaluate the level of pleasure they experienced. The results showed that the greatest satisfaction from the taste of chocolate and overall enjoyment was reported by volunteers from the third group. This effect is also observed concerning non-material pleasures.

Conscious abstention from pleasures enhances self-control. Or, in terms preferred by psychologists M. P. Carey, A. D. Forsyth, Teaching tip sheet: Self-efficacy / American Psychological Association, self-efficacy - that is, confidence in one's ability to control one's own behavior. Essentially, such abstention removes desires from the control of the most ancient, reptilian part of the brain and transfers them to the prefrontal cortex. Thanks to this, we can consciously manage them. It's a complex process, but it's worth it.

Nevertheless, not every type of self-discipline yields positive results. To truly enhance the quality of life, limitations must adhere to specific standards.

In 2005, a study conducted by researchers Impett, Gable, and Peplau and published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology examined sacrifices people make in romantic and family relationships. The study found that the key factor in this process is motivation. When people make sacrifices in relationships out of love for their partner, it brings them joy. However, if the reasons for the sacrifices are fear or other negative emotions, it can lead to irritation and even anger. In other words, if you make compromises only to avoid conflict, it can lead to feelings of resentment and disappointment.

In order to effectively curb one's indulgence in something familiar and significant, it's beneficial to commence with modest steps. Incrementally diminishing the amount of pleasure assists in sidestepping setbacks and boosts the chances of achievement.

Entirely abstaining from pleasures isn't mandatory. Temporary liberation from indulgences aids in experiencing them with greater intensity. For instance, one might negotiate with oneself to forgo a specific pleasure for a week, only to relish it once more thereafter.

Life encompasses dual facets, each holding significance. Thus, through encountering transient discomfort, we unearth the splendor inherent in life's essence.