# Moderation as the Optimal Answer By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2024-02-21 A dessert, after months of abstaining, typically tastes delicious. This is especially true if one likes desserts and sweet treats. We encounter this phenomenon all of the time. We tend to appreciate things more if we cannot regularly partake in them. For example, these things could be food, loved ones, or many others. Furthermore, this phenomenon implies an optimal balance of partaking and abstaining to achieve maximum appreciation. Abstain for a few weeks and then partake to get maximum appreciative enjoyment. Alternatively, one could attempt to be more appreciative and mindful daily. For example, perhaps one mindfully has dessert every day and reaches levels of appreciation equivalent to abstaining for weeks. I'm unaware of any studies showing which strategy is more effective regarding appreciation maximization. Still, I suspect it will vary wildly based on the individual and item of interest. Of course, appreciation maximization is only one value metric. Many others could be much more valuable and important. Regarding desserts, an alternative metric may be one's weight, so abstaining might be a good approach. Regarding loved ones, an alternative metric may be companionship, so daily appreciation might be a good approach. When we speak of balance and moderation, the point is not a simplistic switching between two choices. Instead, balance and moderation are a call to analyze the situation, alternatives, and one's place in the world. This naturally leads to the conclusion that one approach is rarely good for one's life or society. The mixture, a bit of chaos, acknowledgment of differences, and contextual understanding are almost always the "optimal" solution in the final analysis. This is what the call for balance and moderation means. Unfortunately, many insist on a single answer. The paradox and irony of this post advocating for a single meta-answer is not lost on me. #### Related Items [[Analytics]] [[Thinking]] [[Answers]] [[Behavior]] [[Progress]] [[Paradox]] [[Value]] [[Optimization]]