You’re probably thinking I’ve lost it, why would I want to thank something that irritates me like a food craving? I hate them, I want them go away! Well hear me out and I will tell you exactly why you should thank your food cravings and what’s IN IT for you.

When we have cravings, it’s a sign from our mind / body that something is amiss.  It could be from a number of things, from the more physical, to the more mental / emotional / spiritual. Things like skipping meals, eating too much sugar and other things can give us rebound sugar and carb cravings. But it can also be from some unmet need we are ignoring or maybe just not paying attention to.

For this example, I’ll assume that it’s not from ignoring your physical need for nourishing food, at regular intervals, but more the emotional / mental / spiritual needs that we have as humans. I’m also not talking about the desire for something that feels balanced, like:

“Oh, it would be nice to have a bite of chocolate, I’d like that.”

 I’m talking like: 

“You’re standing between me and my chocolate, get out of the way, you’re risking your safety!’

Well, maybe not that strong, but sometimes they can be just that strong, right.

Cravings are always a call for action, but what if the action you needed to take was not to reach for the food, or distract yourself, or repeat affirmations or remember your goal, or look at your thin-in-spiring photo on your fridge? What if what you needed in that moment was none of that? Non action, non doing. What if getting curious about your craving was what you needed instead? This would be a different scenario altogether. When the craving hits, say Thank You! and ponder:

“Hmm, I’m having this intense craving for: _________________ (fill in the blank), I might even drive to the store for this, I wonder what that’s about?“

Instead of getting in the car, or sending someone on an errand for you, say:

Thank You. 

Pause and ask yourself the following question like you mean it. You know how to do this, it’s like when you give your full attention to your dear friend when she has just told you her horrible news. You know what I’m talking about, it’s when you see her face and realize, this is important, I need to be sensitive here with this dear one, she needs me to be fully present and listen. We do this really well for others, but we really need to do this for ourselves. Ask:

What’s up?

When you get this curious about yourself, with this much kindness, you can only benefit. It’s like when a child is crying. If you pick her up, you have a much better chance of comforting her than if you ignored her, right?

Instead of berating yourself for having a craving or getting mad that once again you gave in, why not get curious, take some deep breaths and listen to your body. What up, what’s needed here? Are you upset? Are you needing the comfort of someone close to you? Do you need to communicate something to someone? Have you been ignoring your need to be alone or to be wildly creative? There is always a why and once you know what that is, you can start focusing on thehow. The how is finding a way to meet that need, and that should be a process of open exploration and curiosity as well. Hmm, I wonder how I can….

The next time you have a craving, I encourage you thank it, to get curious and see what happens. I do know from the many years I’ve worked in the healing arts, that when our bodies need something, they ask, if we ignore them, they yell, and they scream louder until we stop and listen.

So, will you stop and listen, take some deep breaths and get curious this week if you have a craving? See if by paying attention to this craving, that it might just fade into the background. Why?  Because the message has been heard.

One thing I do know is, when the men and women I work with around super strong Food Cravings with Acupressure realize what was underneath their craving, they’re grateful and relieved. They realize that their mind / body was tirelessly trying to help them feel better, and they simply weren’t aware. When they were brave enough to hold those Acupressure points and listen, all the guilt and shame dissolves, and then they’re free. Cravings gone. This is what I wish for you, how it happens is irrelevant, I just want it to happen for you. You deserve it, you are not broken, and you can have freedom. This I know is true.

I’d love to hear from you. Will you take me up on this challenge? I’d love to hear how it goes for you and what you learn about yourself and your cravings.

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Yours in health,