Actress Essence Atkins recently disclosed unexpected insight into the advantages of abstinence. During Wednesday’s episode of The Sherri Shepherd Show, the actress discussed her reasons for not hurrying into intimacy.
The celebrated actress, known for her roles in Smart Guy and Half & Half, recently shared a powerful revelation about her personal journey of practicing abstinence, reflecting on how this decision has brought clarity to her life and relationships.
“It’s almost 4 years,” Essence shared, discussing her commitment to abstinence. “What I have found is that I have tremendous clarity. So when I meet someone, because I’m not distracted by the possibility, I can really assess and listen with much better ears than I could have when I was just kind of looking at how attractive the other person is.”
Regarding her decision to refrain from sexual activity, she feels that intimacy should be cherished and held in high regard. Furthermore, she has shared her experiences of being introduced to sex at an early age through pornography.
“I am someone who used to watch porn,” she said. “It was a struggle for me. I discovered porn when I was a child. My mom’s boyfriend had it, so I consumed porn as a teenager and as a young adult. When I became a believer, I believed that pornography was keeping me and helping me abstain from sex.”
For Essence Aitkins, abstinence has become more than a personal choice—it’s a lens through which she evaluates potential relationships. “Listen,” she emphasized, “you can spot the inconsistencies in someone much easier without the distraction of physical touch.”
Abstinence can be a way to steer clear of the dangers associated with sex, such as unintended pregnancy and STDs until you feel prepared to manage and mitigate those risks. Choosing abstinence can also allow you to concentrate on other significant aspects of your life, including friendships, academics, sports, hobbies, enjoying yourself, and making future plans.
Sherri, still unsure about the advantages of abstinence, replied to Atkins, “If you don’t apply anything to that old gate, it’s going to break off.” Atkins jokingly replied, “I’ll inform you when that occurs.”
