Why Eat
The main purpose of eating is to provide our body with nutrients and energy fuel our life. Sadly, most people eat for pleasure, without caring much about getting the right nutrition. This is one of the main reasons we have so many sick people around the world. It would seem that, when it comes to food, mainstream cultures around the world focus more on pleasure than health.
Many of us use eating as a distraction. We eat when we are bored. We eat when we are nervous or afraid. We eat to distract ourselves and avoid thinking about our problems.
For example, I may be working on a project, feeling focused and then suddenly, I will bump into a challenge. The first thing I notice is the thoughts that say “I can’t do this”, “I don’t want to”, “I am afraid”.
Immediately after that I notice the next thought “I should eat something”. I am sure this is an experience that everyone goes through. Some people get the urge to eat, others need to smoke a cigarette. We all have different coping mechanisms, eating is one of the most common. Mindfulness practices help us see our mind at work in this types of scenarios, and make positive changes.
I find it important to become super conscious, and be sure to know the reason we are reaching for food when we do. It is to feed ourselves? Or are we using it to hide something else?
Of course, there are situations where it is acceptable to eat even if you are not hungry. Maybe you are at a wedding, or you are having lunch with your boss. Maybe you went to the movies, and your date wants to share some popcorn with you. Perhaps our parents invited us for dinner, and we simply want to share a meal with them.
I think those are situations where it is acceptable to make an exception, and eat even if we are not hungry. At the same time, I find it equally acceptable to kindly reject any of those offers, and pass on food, while remaining in a peaceful and harmonious social exchange.
We can go to the movies and let our date eat popcorn while we drink water. We can go to lunch with our boss and do the same. We also can go to our family’s Thanksgiving dinner, and kindly withhold from eatting anything we know is harmful to us.
The most important part is to realize what we are doing, and why we are doing it. If we feel shame, or fear being judged, and choose to eat when we know our body doesn’t need it, then we want to at least be conscious that we are making that choice, and find out why. If we fear our boss will fire us because we didn’t have a sandwich with them, then we might decide to go ahead, and indulge with them. The choice is always yours.
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