The Importance of Subtraction

Today is Ash Wednesday in the Catholic Church. The ashes symbolize human frailty, sin and humility before God.

For the next 40 days or so after today, Catholics are meant to sacrifice in their lives, pray, and give alms to charity. During the Season of Lent, they are expected to follow Jesus’ example of fasting for 40 days in the desert.

They are also expected to fast today, and refrain from meat every Friday during Lent. They will fast again on Good Friday, right before Easter.

I am not trying to sell you on the Catholic religion. If I was, I’m not making it sound so good. The reason I bring it up is the importance of self-denial.

Seems like our society today is one of addition. There are always new gadgets coming out.  New content to consume online. Unfortunately too many romantic relationships are dissolving because one partner wants to try someone new.

I see it in my assisted living homes all the time. Residents go to the hospital. Or visit a doctor or specialist. Very often they come back with new drugs. Mostly without retiring any of the current drugs.

We just keep adding in so many areas of our lives.

Yet deep in us is a need for subtraction.

We reminisce about days gone by. How much better things were way back when in simpler times. People complain about how much other people are on their phones. And how it would be better for them to read a book or even sit in silence.

Besides the Catholics, there are lots of people who think of subtraction as an important act. The Jewish faith has several fasting days per year. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset during Ramadan.

All these religions consider self-denial to be a good act.

It can be a healthy act as well. There are lots of benefits to nutritional fasting. Social media fasting as well. Fasting from comfort such as hot water (taking cold showers) or sitting in a sauna for a long time can be considered self-denial.

Going to the gym and wearing yourself out helps you fast from comfort more.

Or narrowing the number of people you see on a regular basis. Eliminating the toxic and superficial people from your life so you can concentrate on the few that matter is subtraction. And many people like it.

A good way to subtract for health is to look at the foods you crave and eliminate them from your diet. There’s probably a reason you crave them. People don’t wake up in the middle of the night craving sardines. They crave ultra-processed ice cream. Or cereal.

So when you see people scrambling to keep up with the Joneses. Or running to the doctor for a new medication with every ache and pain.

Take a moment. Relax. Start to wonder what you can subtract to make your world better. Just the thought of not wanting more. Of being content in your present situation. Might just be one of the best health hacks you’ve stumbled across in a long time.