I made a commitment to completely cut out drinking and anything

“I made a commitment to completely cut out drinking and anything that might hamper me from getting my mind and body together. And the floodgates of goodness have opened upon me — spiritually and financially.” Thus spoke Denzel Washington, a man whose life has stood as both example and testimony — a man of discipline, of faith, and of purpose. His words are a declaration of liberation, for they speak of the sacred power that awakens when one breaks free from self-imposed chains. He speaks of commitment, of the deliberate turning of the will toward higher things, and of the divine abundance that follows when the mind and body are brought into harmony.

The ancients, too, knew this truth well. They called it temperance — the virtue that guards the soul from excess and keeps the flame of wisdom from being smothered by indulgence. The philosophers of Greece, the monks of the desert, and the warriors of the East all understood that one cannot serve both discipline and desire. For when the senses rule, the spirit grows weak; but when the spirit rules, the senses become instruments of purpose. What Denzel Washington expresses in modern speech is the same eternal law: that mastery over the self is the first step toward mastery over destiny.

He speaks not merely of abstaining from drink, but of a far deeper act — the cleansing of one’s temple, both body and mind, that the soul might dwell there in clarity. To “cut out anything that might hamper” him was not a punishment, but a purification. In every age, those who seek greatness must learn this same lesson: the body must be made strong, the mind clear, the will steadfast. Only then can the gates of goodness open. For the divine does not pour its blessings into a vessel clouded with confusion or dulled by distraction.

Consider the example of Alexander the Great, who as a youth was taught by Aristotle that self-control was the foundation of leadership. Though surrounded by luxury, he disciplined his appetites, knowing that indulgence weakens the heart. His soldiers followed him not because he was born a king, but because he lived as one who ruled himself first. Likewise, when Washington speaks of “getting his mind and body together,” he reminds us that greatness begins not with fortune or fame, but with alignment — the inner order that allows a man to walk in power and peace.

And behold what follows such alignment — the “floodgates of goodness.” This is not mere metaphor. It is the natural outpouring that occurs when one lives in accordance with truth. For when the spirit is clear, it attracts clarity; when the body is disciplined, it draws strength; when the mind is pure, it becomes a magnet for divine favor. What Washington calls spiritual and financial blessings are simply the fruits of harmony — proof that prosperity, in its truest form, flows from within before it manifests without.

Many in our time seek abundance without discipline, joy without sacrifice, success without surrender. Yet the wise know that nothing good endures without foundation. The act of renunciation — of letting go of what weakens us — is not loss, but gain. It is the pruning of the vine that it might bear greater fruit. When Washington renounced that which clouded his purpose, he did not shrink — he expanded. His mind grew sharp, his spirit awakened, and life itself seemed to conspire in his favor.

So, dear seeker, let this teaching be written upon your heart: make your own commitment to purity and discipline. Cut away what hinders you — the habits, distractions, and desires that dull your light. Cleanse your mind with thought, your body with action, your soul with faith. Do not fear the emptiness that comes when you give something up; for it is in that emptiness that the floodgates of goodness open. The universe does not reward wishful thought — it rewards courageous transformation.

Practical actions for the seeker: Begin by naming what weakens you — be it indulgence, doubt, or neglect. Choose one thing, and renounce it with purpose. Replace it not with pride, but with discipline — with reading, with prayer, with exercise, with service. Guard your mind as you would a sacred garden; plant only thoughts that strengthen you. Nourish your body as the vessel of your mission. In time, you too shall find what Denzel Washington discovered: that when the inner life is ordered, when the mind and body walk as one, the floodgates of goodness cannot help but open — and life, in all its beauty, begins to flow.