Sophrosyne (pronounced soh-froh-soo’-neh ) is an ancient Greek concept that characterizes a healthy state of mind that is brought about by self-control, moderation, and a deep awareness of one’s true self. Sophrosyne is the idea of your best self and by achieving it, one would find themselves in a state of true happiness and contentment. While it is a rather complex ideal, sophrosyne is also an ideal well worth striving for. So often temperance, moderation, and self-control can have stick-in-the-mud, prudish sorts of stigmas, when really, by practicing those things one can still fully experience life (and have plenty of excitement and impulsive experiences) but also achieve a sort of balanced, or sophrosyne, mindset and life.
I think this lady has quite the sophrosyne expression (detail from “with violets wreathed and robe of saffron hue” by John Willian Godward)
Sophrosyne is the very word I’ve been searching for to describe my ideal state of mind and now that I know it, I’m making it a goal and a mantra!
*Check out the Word Nerd Index and my Word Nerd Pinterest Board for other superb words!
** If there’s a word you’d like to see added to the Word Nerd roster, please feel free to drop me a line or suggest it in the comments – I love feedback and recommendations!
Lawhimsy 
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