The Soul Chronicles: The Beauty Of Balanced Pleasure, Without Losing Yourself

Celina Fato
Nov 26
3 min read

There was a time in my life when i chased pleasure without boundaries, silently running from myself in ways i didn't realise at the time.

Back then, pleasure felt like the only place i could breathe. I said yes to anything that gave me a rush, a softness, a momentary escape, i said yes with no boundaries. It wasn't just enjoying life, a

part of it was losing myself in it. And while those fleeting moments felt good the after did not always feel so great. I realised there was a part of me not choosing pleasure but pleasure choosing me. I was using it as a shield, not a nourishment.

Multiple experience's have taught me one of the most grounding truths:

"Pleasure without balance will eventually pull you away from yourself. Pleasure with balance will bring you home."

Pleasure is not the enemy of growth.

It is a part of being human.

And a healthy life needs both discipline & delight.

Why Pleasure Still Matters

By all means pleasure is not a bad thing or something that needs to be villainised. In fact, i honour it more now than i ever did before. Pleasure can sooth the nervous system, support emotional health & reconnect us to the present moment. It is a reminder that life is not just about survival, it is embodiment, joy, warmth, & aliveness.

A moment of indulgence, a slow warm cuppa, a smooth red wine, a warm bath, delicious food melting on the tongue, dancing all night long, a lazy morning in bed, these are recalibrations.

The Turning Point

My shift came when i started asking,

Is this pleasure feeding me or distracting me?
Do i feel more myself afterwards or less?
Am i choosing this intentionally or reaching for something to avoid discomfort?

These questions become anchors, pulling me back into balance, not denying pleasure but by letting it be apart of a wholesome, healthy, rooted life.

The Art Of Healthy Indulgence

Healthy pleasure isn't about restriction or overindulgence. It is about relationship, the one you have with yourself.

A grounded, balanced approach to pleasure:

Feels nourishing rather than numbing
Supports your wellbeing rather than sabotaging it
Lets you enjoy the present moment without loosing yourself in it
Allows softness without abandoning self-respect
You savour it rather than rush through it
Nourishes rather than depletes

Pleasure becomes unhealthy only when it replaces our inner needs instead of supporting them, when we use it to avoid emotion, soothe loneliness & disconnect or fill emptiness.

When pleasure is grounded intentionality, it becomes medicine not an escape.

Letting Your Guard Down But Not Letting Yourself Go

Now, i allow myself to indulge from time to time, with awareness, presence & self-trust. A glass of wine, a cocktail, a slow night in, a night out, a delicious meal, a luxurious moment, they all belong in a healthy, balanced, joyful life. But now they are woven into a broader tapestry of balance, care, boundaries & alignment.

I no longer lose myself in pleasure.

I let pleasure meet me at where i am at with total presence.

Balance is not perfection, it is listening.

Reason is not restriction, it is clarity.

A Simple Guide To Healthy Pleasure

Try asking yourself,