Manage your Sensory Tsunamis
Manage your Sensory Tsunamis
(Adapted from an article by Dr. John H. Sklare)
Dr. Sklare was communicating with a woman the other day who expressed her concerns about fighting off her cravings for junk food. Like so many of us, her downfall was eating junk food late at night. She said that she was able to be on track all day at work, but as soon as she returned home and the sun went down, the junk food gremlins began whispering into her ear. Her comment was that she simply could not resist the temptations, and would finally give in to the unrelenting, mental demand. We have all experienced this particular struggle in one way or another over the years. The intense craving for junk food becomes what Dr. Sklare refers to as a "sensory tsunami.” It becomes a powerful wave of emotion that lifts you up, takes you away and leaves a weight loss and wellness devastation in its path.
The truth is, however, that you can control this particular sensory tsunami. Even though it may not feel like it, YOU control this mental force of nature. Your thoughts supply its energy and you are responsible for the damage it creates. This sensory tsunami began as a small ripple the moment you put that junk food into your cart at the grocery store. It became a bigger wave when you paid for it at the checkout counter, and it began its destructive journey toward your mental shoreline the moment you brought it into your house. If you're someone who experiences this nightly struggle of trying to fight off urges, try to change your perspective: "If you avoid bringing trigger foods into your home, you can wave goodbye to the sensory tsunamis that wash over you & cause nightly mental torments.” (And don't make excuses that your husband/wife/child/partner will feel deprived, because these foods are of no nutritional value to them even if they are of normal weight).
If Not Now......When?
There are three categories of people who embark on a wellness journey:
1) Those who work hard, stay focused and refuse to let occasional slips or minor amounts of weight gain deter them from their ultimate goal. These people succeed. They make it happen.
2) Those who sit back and watch others succeed. They tend to be supportive and give great advice but still tend to watch it happen to others.
3) Finally, there are those who become lost in the abyss between what they want and what they actually do. These people wonder what happened.
I believe that every one of you has the ability to succeed. I know you CAN succeed, but I do not know if you WILL. Your success depends on the actions you take and the decisions you make along the way. The key is not to wait for the perfect program, the magic pill or the ideal time. The key is to make it happen and make it happen now.
IF NOT NOW....WHEN????
All of you CAN achieve your goals - just never give up. Trust in your ability to push forward through difficult times!
Dr. Doug
(Note John H. Sklare is the President/CEO of Inner Resource Corporation and the creator of "The Inner Diet”)