Hi there,
What is it that you run to when you feel shaken? People often lean on habits and foods: chocolate and ice cream, coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, fried foods — you name it. So much of our unhealthy cravings are coping mechanisms to deal with low energy, social anxiety, and sadness. It’s almost like we are medicating our discomfort. However, we are only taking care of the symptoms, and not of what is causing our imbalance. And because of that, the root problem keeps on being there — and on top of that, we create an unhealthy coping habit.
Mindfulness can help us with that by encouraging us to not run away from discomfort. Mindfulness is an invitation to stay here, now, and feel it all. Here is a mindfulness practice that supports you in expanding your joy in everyday life.
This is one of the 50 mindfulness practices that I share in my upcoming book, “Bullshit-free Mindfulness”. You can register here to be notified when the book is launched, I hope you enjoy it!
We tend to suffer so much in anticipation; it is like our minds keep telling us how bad something is going to be, so we run away from it as much as we can. But by staying with it and feeling what is to be felt, we get to experience how strong we are, and that our fears were not as bad as our minds were telling us. So much self-confidence can come from that!
This week, the invitation is to select a habit you have when it comes to food or drink consumption that you know is not that good for you. Watch as the craving rises. What do you feel? Can you notice in your body what is going on? Can you notice why this craving is rising? What is it supporting you to cope with? Identify the real discomfort that is stirring your craving.
For instance, say you are upset. Is there a person you can talk to and vent? Can you journal, take a break and breathe, or meditate? Can you shake, shout, cry, or go for a run? Can you hug yourself and tell yourself it is all fine and that you are there for yourself? Can you ask for a hug from someone around you? Stay with it and see what other ways of supporting yourself emerge.
In a Nutshell
Identify an unhealthy craving of yours that has to do with foods or beverages.
Every time this craving emerges this week, stay present, feel, and connect to why it is emerging. What is it covering for?
Stay with yourself, breathe deeply and see what other ways you could support yourself in a healthier way.
Enjoyed this practice from my upcoming book? You can register here to be notified when it is launched.
See you next week,
Aline