What Are You Craving?

Chapter 1 Who’s Hungry? We are all hungry. Some of us are even starving, and I don’t mean we can’t wait to stuff ourselves with that next giant pizza. If you are like most of us you are experiencing emotional or spiritual hunger. You feel like something is missing in your life, but you can’t quite figure out where that feeling is coming from or why you have the feeling at all. Therefore, we often feed ourselves the wrong things trying to satisfy our cravings. We try to fill the holes, but sometimes we miss the mark. Perhaps we are craving a new relationship, but instead of putting ourselves out there and actually talking to a real live human being, we feed that craving with chips and ice cream and end up with a relationship with food and a body that doesn’t serve our highest selves. Or maybe we have a spiritual craving that we try to fill with relationships. We surround ourselves with people all the time and end up with many friends and acquaintances in our lives, but still feel empty and lonely and without a spiritual connection to a higher power. We also have different cravings at different times in our lives. What are you craving now? Is it a new job, a new relationship, a spiritual connection, a purpose? Maybe it’s Kentucky High Pie (If you’ve never had Kentucky High Pie, you are in for a treat!) Or maybe you don’t even know what it is yet. Many people feel like something is missing in their lives. We are craving something, but can’t quite put our finger on exactly what it is. This book will help you to discover what’s missing and find a way to satisfy your true cravings to nourish your mind, body and soul - and yes, it will even satisfy your craving for pie! Start by asking yourself this question, “What do I really want my life to look like?” How many times do you ask yourself this question? Once a year when you are making your resolutions, or maybe never? We go through our life trying to accomplish things daily, weekly, or on the five or ten year plan. Take a moment to look closely at the life you’ve created up to this point. Now, think about the life you really want. Do these pictures in your head look similar or does one look like a finger painting done by a three year old and the other a masterpiece by Norman Rockwell? My guess is there are probably some areas that need to be changed or at least spruced up a bit. Now, here’s a big secret, and yes, you are getting it in the first chapter! All the power in creating the life we crave lies in what we believe and what we tell ourselves…because ultimately those thoughts become our beliefs, and our beliefs become our reality. So it is time to ask yourself, what do you believe? What are you telling yourself? All that chatter in your head…is it naughty or nice? Take a look at your life as it is today. How did you get here? Did it just happen to you or did you consciously create it? Here’s a hint: (in a whisper) You created it. Either consciously or unconsciously, but all the choices you have made in the past have brought you to this point in time. So let’s reflect for a moment with a little exercise called “Stop, Start, Continue.” Looking at your life right now, what would you like to stop? Would you like to stop saying “yes” to everyone who asks you to do anything - from watching their kids to cutting their grass? Would you like to stop smoking twenty-three cigarettes a day? Would you like to stop telling yourself how much you hate your body? I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Things I would like to stop: 1. ______________________________________ 2. ______________________________________ 3. ______________________________________ Now think about what you would like to start. Would you like to begin a new creative hobby like painting or playing music? Would you like to start moving your body more in a fun way? Would you like to learn how to cook healthy delicious meals for your family? What would you like to add to your life right now that would bring joy, health, and love into your life or the lives of others? Things I would like to start: 1. ________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________ And finally, what would you like to continue? Let’s give ourselves some credit here. We are doing something right! Maybe you are already an amazing cook and you bless your family and friends with scrumptious food for any occasion. Perhaps you are already a health nut and you share your tips with others. Maybe you are a great parent. Maybe you are the best underwater basket weaver in North America. We all have gifts and talents. What are you doing well in your life right now that you would like to keep doing because it brings joy and love to yourself and those around you? (Everyone loves your underwater woven baskets so don’t stop making those, please.) Things I would like to continue: 1. ______________________________________ 2. ______________________________________ 3. ______________________________________ At this point you have a nice list of things you would like to stop, start and continue. This is our starting point. This list is fluid, meaning it will change and grow as we evolve. It is not carved in stone, as nothing in this life really is. Everything can change, and we have the power to change anything we want.