{"id":124627,"date":"2019-01-05T15:56:41","date_gmt":"2019-01-05T23:56:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=124627"},"modified":"2019-01-10T14:48:35","modified_gmt":"2019-01-10T22:48:35","slug":"ascetic-is-sexy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/05\/ascetic-is-sexy\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Think an Ascetic Lifestyle is Sexy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In praise of an ascetic lifestyle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Ascetic over frugality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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I never liked the notion of being ‘frugal’. It seemed too much self-abnegation (self-denial, to somehow ‘punish’ yourself). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would say instead, let us go EXTREME: better to pursue an ascetic lifestyle (for the benefits), instead of self-denial as a form of self-flagellation (whipping yourself, to ‘repent’ for your sins).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is ‘ascetic’?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Asceticism gets a bad reputation. We think of all these sickly monks, refusing themselves all worldly pleasures, in order to reach ‘enlightenment’ or perhaps ‘deliverance from sin’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we really think about the word ‘ascetic’, it comes from the Greek word, ‘askesis’ (training, exercise).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus to live an ascetic lifestyle (to me) means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To train yourself to become stronger, to need less, and to become less dependent on fate and external things.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

And the self-training to become stronger is to refuse things which distract you, and take away your power. It ain’t about making yourself weaker and more sickly; it is about making you stronger, bigger, and more magnanimous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why live an ascetic lifestyle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n