Does food talk to you? Does it call your name? Are there certain foods you find irresistible? Many of us have foods that pull us in. We can be pulled in physically in the form of cravings and we can be pulled in psychologically by the promise of emotional well-being the food offers. In the beginning of becoming a mindful eater you may feel as if you spend a lot of time thinking about food and you are probably right. By going from mindless to mindful we are intentionally shifting our emphasis towards food. We are paying more attention to its taste and appearance, to its ability to satisfy or not. When we first give ourselves permission to eat whatever foods we want we may feel that pull I mentioned above more intensely. But over time, that pull towards certain food fades away and foods that were important at one point are not so important anymore. The freedom that is inherent in mindful eating eliminates the pull. As the emphasis on food present at the beginning of the mindful eating process wears off, food’s siren song silences and food takes its proper place in your life. If food is still pulling at you, don’t fret. Be curious about the why, what and when of the pull and use your mindful skills to understand it. If it is food you really want, wait until the next time you are hungry and mindfully enjoy it. Adapted from Mindful Bites – Joyful Life: 365 Days of Mindful Eating. Available in bookstores everywhere.
Push Me Pull You
