1. The Click Beneath the Craving
So there I was… again. In the kitchen. You already know what time it is—the “just one more bite” time. That time when I’m not even hungry, but baby, I’m remembering how good it felt... the last time. That creamy swirl of ice cream, that soft, fluffy cake—lawd, it hit like a love song.
And not just any kind of good. I’m talking about that deep dopamine, life-is-worth-living type of good. Like I’ve been kissed on the forehead by the universe and told, “Here, baby, enjoy this little slice of heaven. I know you don't have a passport right now, but this? This right here is your Paris.”
Let’s keep it real. Sometimes, that bite replaces a dream I haven’t lived yet. A trip I didn’t take. A husband I haven’t met. A baby I haven’t held. A life chapter that still feels out of reach. But in that moment? That cake is a stand-in for joy. And I feel it.
2. Repeated Behavior or Ritual in Disguise?
Now let’s talk about the cycle. You know the one:
I eat the sweet. I feel satisfied. I want to repeat the feeling.
It’s not always about hunger—it’s about memory. The memory of that hit. And sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night like I’m in a zombie movie with one mission: “Just one little bite before I fall back asleep.”
And I'm not even ashamed. There’s something rebel divine about it. Like, “I’m grown, I pay bills, and I deserve this cake.” It’s the one place I don’t have to negotiate. My sweet tooth got rights, okay?!
But here’s the thing—I started to notice that maybe, just maybe… this isn’t about the sweets at all. Maybe it’s about me.
3. What Are You Really Hungry For?
Whew. This question cracked something open:
What are you really hungry for?
Not what do you want to eat, but what are you trying to feed?
That hit me in the chest. Because while my tongue is chasing flavor, my spirit is chasing meaning. Every time I eat cake, I start visualizing the life I want. Not intentionally—just automatic. I’m picturing dreams, relationships, freedom, fulfillment. That’s when I realized…
I wasn’t feeding my body. I was trying to feed my soul.
So I started asking the craving:
- Are you lonely?
- Are you tired?
- Are you bored?
- Do you just need a quick hit of joy?
- Or maybe… are you actually low on protein, or needing Vitamin C, or an energy boost without the sugar crash?
Because if the craving could talk, I think she’d say, “Sis, I just want to feel alive.”
4. Rituals of Enoughness
Now here’s where the shift happened. What if, instead of inhaling that cake like it’s a crime scene cleanup… I made it sacred?
I thought—what if I put it on a pretty plate, lit a candle, and ate it like the goddess I am? Like a queen honoring her cravings but not drowning in them.
And when it’s over, I close the moment.
Dance a little. Say a poem. Stretch.
Take a breath. Whisper, “That was enough.”
I’m now treating the sweet not like an escape, but like a ceremony. A place to feel, to celebrate, to say “thank you” and “I’m okay without more right now.” And the best part? I remind myself:
There will be more joy. This isn’t your last dessert. You’ll get to do this again.
5. Hacking the Craving, Honoring the Body
I also realized—sometimes my body’s just tired. Or bored. Or not properly nourished. Sugar’s an easy plug-in, but not always the fix.
So I’m adding in new tools:
- EFT tapping to calm the nervous system
- Deep breathing to reconnect
- Guided meditations to shift my state
- Simple proteins or herbal tea to soothe real hunger
- Even just talking it out (like I’m doing here) instead of suppressing it
Now, I treat the craving like a messenger, not a monster. I ask her:
“Hey, what do you need, really?”
And guess what? Sometimes she says, “Ice cream.” But other times she says, “Connection. Expression. Rest.” And I’m learning to give her that too.
Final Thoughts: Beauty Isn’t Just How You Look, It’s How You Feed Your Life
If you’ve ever found yourself eating something sweet and wondering, “Why can’t I stop?”—you are not alone.
And you are not broken.
You’re just trying to feel something. To fill something. And that’s okay. What matters is that you keep asking questions, stay curious, and begin turning your cravings into conscious rituals.
Because beauty? Beauty is in how we show up for ourselves. Even in the middle of the night. Even with cake on our breath. Even when we’re still learning how to stop.
0 comments:
Post a Comment