Live a Life of Celibacy

Whether you are entering the priesthood or doing it for personal reasons, remaining celibate can be a difficult thing to do.

With these instructions and support from those around you (and perhaps a guide from above), you can lead a celibate life.

Steps

 * 1) Make sure this is something you are very serious about. It can be a great thing if you are doing it for the right reasons.
 * 2) Find a friend or mentor that has gone through this period in life and ask questions about his or her reason for making their choice.
 * 3) Avoid listening to others' feelings about your decision, if they do not agree with yours. It is your choice and yours alone. Instead, talk to friends and people that will not judge you, or this choice you have made.
 * 4) Get involved in different hobbies; better not to be around many people you may be sexually attracted to for a while if this can be avoided. You could become involved with some more spiritual or personal activities instead.
 * 5) Try to find people who you think will understand you and your choices. Doing this alone can be very challenging. Tell them you need some moral support.
 * 6) Avoid temptation, especially at the start of this lifestyle. Do not put yourself in situations that might lead to sexual activity, such as close quarters with someone of the attractive sex. Don't spend time alone and secluded together unless you absolutely know that you can control of yourself in that situation. You can still be intimate and close with them, as long as you are in control. (it also helps for them to know of your statues with this lifestyle)
 * 7) It is a fact that after a certain amount of time, that if you do not remind yourself of what you are missing sexually, you will stop feeling strong urges. However, this can be hard if you regularly engaging in watching social entertainment like movies, TV shows, and many advertisements and commercials that continually show hormonally and/or sexually led relationships. Learn to ignore these; they are society's standards, not yours.
 * 8) For the most part, continue to keep anything about sexual romance or hormone induced relationships away from your vision. Make a list of all you have wanted to do. You do not have a mate holding you back, so take that trip or write that novel.
 * 9) Doing things alone will help you to grow and challenge yourself on why you wanted to be celibate in the first place. Self empowerment is a powerful thing when used humbly.
 * 10) If religion is a part of your decision to be celibate, read the Bible or other religious book for guidance and strength. Turn to your Priest or religious community in times of weakness and need.
 * 11) Celibacy can be practiced within a relationship, if both are in agreement.
 * 12) You can then both be each other's strength, and learn something together such as an instrument which will keep the mind busy.
 * 13) The joy of learning and focusing more into engaging in other activities of life will help to occupy your mind. It will also tire you out and make you sleep well.
 * 14) Celibacy is said to be a great way to improve mental powers and concentration.
 * 15) Celibacy allows a romantic relationship to grow and develop tenderness, maturity, and self-giving. True love takes a long time, and staying away from sex makes the relationship more stable, not less. A man is impressed by a woman's sweet and gentle "No," if he has pushed her. It increases his respect and trust in her. It makes him want to be a better man, even if he's been a player in the past. The delightful erotic tension is the beginning of legendary love stories that make for good marriages.

Tips

 * Stay healthy and fit. Exercise with your partner, friends or alone.
 * Exercise takes time and concentration. It makes you feel great afterward.
 * Just because you are not dating, does not mean you should not look good.
 * Continue to look after yourself with grooming and well matched clothes and you will feel good.
 * Just because you don't want to engage in sexual activities does not mean you can not have intimate and close relationships with people you might be sexually attracted to, however, be cautious about your own control and make sure they know that you do not want sex.
 * When experienced enough, you can actually more freely engage people you are sexually attracted to. You don't have as much as a standard to live up to when in their company and as a result, nervousness or anxiety can be greatly reduced.

Warnings

 * Do not risk any innocent cuddles or hugs, until you have become adapted to celibacy.
 * Be confident about who you are, so that your will power can prevail. Your choice will be tested - either by yourself or by another - and you will need to be courageous to resist temptation.