What’s At the Heart of Our “Yearning”? Our answers can help us to decode and override our cycle of cravings!
Can you remember when Mufasa, in The Lion King, revealed to Simba that we are all a part of the
Then he went on to show him the pride land while delivering those famous lines from the iconic movie which we will remember forever-
Well, as king, Simba needed to understand the balance between all things, because they are all connected-you got it, in “the circle of life”. Well, as the kings and queens of our particular castles, it’s the same. We need to know what’s going on in our circle to understand the delicate balance that can teeter and totter when things get out of wack!
Take a look at this Circle of Life and each category. If you are completely satisfied in an area, put a star along the outside border. Good for you if you have achieved a level of contentment in an area! But don’t be surprised if it changes tomorrow, today, or 2 minutes from now! That’s life- a dynamic, flowing entity! Cool, right? Maybe, but sometimes NOT so cool, you with me? Life can catch us off our guard and then-we punt. How do each of us handle this “having to punt” stress? Look at the areas that you are not content with and place a mark somewhere along the line toward the center of the circle. The closer you get to the center, the less satisfied you are with a given area.
This exercise is for your eyes only, so be honest and don’t beat yourself up if an area isn’t what you want it to be. Life is something we work on every moment of every day. The exciting part of looking closely at ourselves is that it’s more like looking at our own reflection in an ocean. It’s never static and always changing. This exercise actually helps us to understand that our cravings may be related to our emotions, hormones, finances, relationships or needs other than food! Our essential food is not what we eat. These are the primitive needs
that guide the direction of our lives. What we EAT plays a supporting role! Important, yes, but less than the fundamental longings.
Bio-individuality & Cravings
Everyone has a unique way of living and approach to eating. What works for your body and what doesn’t? There are so many voices in the world claiming a particular style of eating (diet) is “the best”. And-they are CORRECT! It may be the best, for them! You are the perfect scientist for your unique chemistry set.
What works in you may not work in someone else. That’s bio-individuality! Sweet! There really is only ONE of each of us! Sometimes what we crave has to do with that unique life, distinct habits, and one-of-a-kind stressors. The key is knowing the triggers to our cravings and stopping them before they get unruly!
With that out there in the open, let’s try to prevent ourselves from scary situations resembling Jack in “The Shining”, 1980-“all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. And don’t get caught like Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1931)- as the presumably bipolar yo-yo personality springing forth from fluctuating blood sugar levels.
So now that we know we are different, but don’t want to be so different that a great director makes our lives into the next thriller-HOW DO WE STOP CRAVINGS!!
1. Drink more water. Especially when you have a craving! One, 8 oz glass of water before you do anything crazy! Dehydration can make us feel hungry and crave sugars due to Adrenal Fatigue. ( See the following site for details on Adrenal fatigue and stress-http://adrenalfatigue.org)
2. Make sure you are getting plenty of rest. Sleep deprivation can have the same effect as dehydration and so much more. For additional reading on the effects of sleep deprivation on the body, see the following site- (http://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body).
3. Stay active and get regular physical activity! Physical activity helps us to unwind and de-stress as we release endorphin hormones into the bloodstream. Also moving through the blood stream is increased oxygen and stored blood sugar. To learn more about the effects of exercise on cravings check out two sites below.
The first, a more scholarly read-
(http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0119278
or for a simple explanation of cravings read-
(http://sheerbalance.com/3-reasons-you-crave-sugar-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-food/)
4. Cut down on the sugar! Does that seem redundant? Cut down on sugar to stop your sugar craving? That means slowly cut down on carbs and sugars. That means you must read labels at the grocery store as there are hidden sugars in many items you would never have thought to check out such as bacon, spaghetti sauce, yogurts, cereals, fruit juices, and many other processed foods!
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/13-ways-to-fight-sugar-cravings#1
Next, What you crave – What you need – and What to eat!
YOUR ASSIGNMENT!
Your assignment, if you choose to accept it- take and retake the circle of life test. Write out what’s out of wack and what you may need to do to get it in better balance. Find an accountability partner-someone you know, trust, and will support your efforts! Change never comes to us at the pace we would like. A HEALTH COACH is a great person to have on your team.
Check out my FREE HEALTH CONSULTATION if you need a hand as you head in the right direction, the one just right for YOU!
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