I’ve realized that I have a tendency to get hooked on various forms of stimulation. For example, I recently had a tin of sugar-free mints in my car and found myself constantly reaching for one as soon as the last was finished. While this isn’t a major issue, I can go through a tin incredibly fast!
This tendency also extends to overeating, especially when it comes to snacks like chips or popcorn. Often, I’ll find myself grabbing more before I’ve even finished chewing the last bite. This is a bit more concerning since I’m about 12 to 15 pounds overweight. Although I try to stay active and eat healthily, these occasional binges make shedding those extra pounds difficult.
People might say it’s a lack of willpower, and many of us feel that way about ourselves. However, what’s been helping me reduce these small addictions has nothing to do with willpower. Instead, I’ve been focusing on being mindful of cessation—specifically, how flavors fade away in my mouth.
For me, the trigger to reach for more food is when the flavor begins to fade. Normally, I would unthinkingly seek another burst of flavor as soon as the previous one starts to disappear, but now I try to observe this fading process more mindfully.
This mindful practice is quite intriguing. Watching a flavor slowly fade away to nothing lets me practice staying calm and non-reactive. Instead of feeling the urge to grab another snack, I find it more satisfying to watch the flavor disappear, much like enjoying a sunset fade. I’ve noticed that the flavor of a mint can linger in my mouth for as long as an hour and a half after eating it.
This approach is working very well for me. I’ve also noticed that I crave mental stimulation, often checking social media when bored. While writing this article at the DMV, I felt the urge to reach for my phone and check Twitter. Instead, I tried to observe the restlessness and watched it fade. Surprisingly, this was also enjoyable and left me not wanting to check Twitter. I focused on connecting with the people around me, which was quite pleasant.
I’ve come to believe that willpower is overrated. Our actions are often driven by strong desires and strategies. By making not eating a mint or not opening Twitter enjoyable, we are more inclined to follow through.
Observing the cessation of an experience has been fun for me, and it might be for you too. I suggest giving this experiment a try to see how it works for you.
Cheers,
Bodhi