Deny Yourself...?

I have this tendency to believe that denying myself things that I like or want is true spirituality.

The thinking is, of course, that everything "of the flesh" is super evil. Bad. No good for you. I am such a wicked, messed up sinner that nothing I want could ever be good or good for me. If I just consistently deny myself and what I want, it makes me more spiritual; more Christlike.

I'm not here to say that you should never deny yourself. I believe that sacrifice is one of the major themes of a true Christ follower's life. But sometimes we take denial of ourselves too far, almost to ascetic levels, forgetting the words of Paul in Colossians 2:20-23:

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Sometimes, denial of self is the godly and right thing to do. But sometimes, it's just plain stupid.