I admit that I tend to get hooked on various forms of stimulation. For example, I had a tin of sugar-free mints in my car recently, and I’d frequently find myself reaching for another mint as soon as I finished one. This isn’t a major issue, but I can quickly go through a tin of mints!
The same thing happens with food, especially unhealthy snacks like potato chips or popcorn. I tend to overeat these because, as soon as I’ve swallowed one bite, my hand is already reaching for the next. This habit has contributed to me being about 12 to 15 pounds overweight. Despite running and generally trying to eat healthily, my occasional binges make it hard to shed those extra pounds.
Some might say it’s a lack of willpower. Many of us probably feel the same way. However, I’ve found a strategy that helps reduce these little addictions, and it isn’t about willpower at all. Instead, I’ve been trying to be mindful of how flavors fade in my mouth.
The fading of a flavor is actually what triggers my habit. Normally, without thinking, I immediately seek another burst of flavor as soon as the previous one begins to fade. By observing this fading process, I’ve developed a new habit.
This practice of watching a flavor decay in my mouth, slowly disappearing, is fascinating. It’s an opportunity to practice staying calm and not reacting immediately. As the flavor fades, I no longer feel the urge to reach for another. In fact, observing the flavor fade away is more satisfying, similar to watching a sunset. Interestingly, I can still detect the flavor of a mint an hour and a half after eating it.
This approach has been working well so far.
I also get hooked on mental stimulation, often finding myself restlessly checking social media when I’m bored. For example, while writing this at the DMV, I found myself reaching for my phone to check Twitter. Instead, I paused and observed my feeling of restlessness as it faded away. I realized that just watching this feeling pass was enjoyable, and it took away my urge to check Twitter. I then connected more compassionately with the people around me, which was also enjoyable.
I believe willpower is overrated. Whether we want to do the “right” thing usually depends on our strategies. If not eating a mint or avoiding social media can be made enjoyable, that’s what we’ll lean towards.
I’ve found that observing the end of an experience can be fun. Maybe it will be for you too. I suggest trying it out as an experiment.