‘We should treat our minds as we do our bodies; enjoy enough to keep them strong and healthy, but not so much as to make them weak.’ – Seneca
A senior executive I coach leads one of the busiest portfolios in her organisation. And yet, what people notice most is her calm, focused presence.
This doesn’t happen by accident; it’s the result of deliberate choices in how she structures her days.
She never gets long stretches of uninterrupted time, but she does diarise ‘small anchors’ into her weeks; a one-hour block on Friday for deep thinking, thirty minutes on Tuesday afternoon to step back and reflect.
She doesn’t see these as ‘nice to have’ extras; she knows they’re essential if she’s to practise temperance in the middle of relentless demands. And why does she value temperance? Because she knows it unlocks her capacity to listen deeply, frame decisions with clarity, and stay composed in complex conversations. Her team takes their cue from her, and their own steadiness has grown.
➡️ This is temperance in action. Not staying measured for the sake of it, but thoughtful pacing that supports better decision-making and builds stronger, more sustainable teams.
