Taming the “Wanting Mind”: How to Break the Cycle of Cravings Have you ever stood in front of an open refrigerator, knowing you want something but not knowing what? You scan the shelves, land on that leftover chocolate cake, and eat it. Maybe all of it. And yet afterward, you still feel unsatisfied only now you’re also uncomfortable, guilty, and frustrated. According to psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher Sasha T. Loring, author of Eating with Fierce Kindness, this experience is a classic example of what she calls “the wanting mind.” The wanting mind is a state of fundamental dissatisfaction a restless sense that something is missing, even when our basic needs have already been met. It’s this state that often drives cravings. Where Cravings Come From Cravings can arise for many reasons: Food sensitivities or allergies Lack of sleep Nutrient deficiencies Stress or emotional overwhelm But Loring points out that cravings aren’t only…

Do you find yourself eating most of your meals in front of a TV or computer screen? Do you grab food on the go, gulping it down with a beverage before you’ve had a chance to chew it? During meals, are you also talking on your smartphone, or is your mind preoccupied with your next project or concern so much that you barely notice what you’re eating?All of the above are examples of “mindless eating,” the opposite of “mindful eating.”“Mindful eating” is a concept that comes from Buddhism, a religion that cultivates mindfulness not just in eating but in all aspects of everyday life. Although books have been written about mindfulness, very simply it is noticing, in a relaxed, nonjudgmental way, what is happening in the present moment. Although it’s called mindfulness, it necessarily includes the senses, because it is through the senses that we experience the present—through what we see, smell, touch, hear and taste. The practice of mindfulness requires that we slow down, quiet ou…