Life’s a Little Bit Crazy Right Now
So this week, I’m thinking a lot about our mind’s response to change. My life’s a little bit crazy right now. I’m sure a lot of y’all’s lives are a little bit, you know, uncertain. And there’s a lot of change and uncertainty going on in the world as well.
The Mind’s Natural Response: Escape
And you know, it’s just so interesting how desperately our minds seek to try to escape the present moment. Things are often when we have difficult feelings, emotions, body sensations, situations the natural reaction of our minds is to escape. You know, in many different ways, right? Like in terms of food, drink, but even in every moment with our phones or like that random piece of candy or whatever.
And not that this is, you know, there’s some judgment or criticism or shame here. It’s just literally the operating system of our minds.
The Paradox of Acceptance
But paradoxically, if we can practice just looking at the current moment, the situation, and practice sitting with what is going on, it somehow becomes so much easier to deal with.
And this is not something where, you know, I’m sitting here and saying like I got it all figured out, but it’s just a practice thing. And I fail constantly, but the times and more so more recently that I’m able to just accept the situation, it’s just… the answers become much clearer.
How This Relates to Weight Loss and Wellness
And I just think that this is relevant, you know, in weight loss and wellness in so many different ways because we often wonder like, why are we eating this? Why are we going to the pantry? Why are we doing all these things?
And really, the answer is often like there’s something that’s difficult. And I mean, that’s just being a human in this world. That’s just suffering.
Gentle Awareness Over Reaction
And really, I think that if we slowly, gently, with self-compassion, learn to start looking at those things that are a little bit tough, a little bit challenging maybe dipping our toes in we can kind of see that they’re not so scary.
And instead of reacting to the next thing, to the next, you know, Hershey’s Kiss or the bag of chips or looking at our phones and doom-scrolling on social media… you may find it easier to kind of just like sit there and let it be.
We Don’t Need All the Answers Right Now
Because in the end, you know, we don’t have to solve everything right now. We don’t have to have the answers. I know that’s hard. It’s especially hard for me. But the more I practice this, the easier things can get and the less reactive I become.
Closing Thoughts
So I’m hoping this is helpful for everyone. You know, I want to keep sending these videos out on some weekly cadence. These are just things that, you know, I’m thinking about things that I’ve learned, you know, just by talking to a lot of patients and just my own kind of spiritual journey.
And so, you know, this is Dr. Vivek Gupta, the CEO of Mindful Wellness. As always, you know, if you know anybody who can benefit from our services, please send them our way either at our website or phone number. I’m sure a lot of you all know it, but really appreciate taking the time to listen, and I’m going to try to send one out next week as well.
Thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are common ways we escape difficult feelings?
People often turn to food, phones, social media, or distractions like sweets and snacking.
2. Is it wrong to avoid discomfort?
No, it’s a normal response. The key is to bring awareness to it without judgment.
3. How does mindfulness help with uncertainty?
Mindfulness allows us to sit with discomfort and understand it, making it easier to handle and reducing reactivity.
4. How is this related to weight loss?
Emotional eating often stems from unaddressed feelings. Mindfulness helps identify the “why” behind eating habits.
5. Do I need to fix everything right now?
No. Simply noticing and accepting what’s happening can lead to clarity over time.
