Tuning in to Taste and Experience
Audio Version:
If you know me, you’ll know that I’m fascinated by how we use language – and how that affects our experience, our actions, and therefore our results.
Think about this.
I want an ice cream
When you tell yourself you ‘want an ice cream’ you’re giving your brain a goal for eating, which manifests in a picture of an ice-cream (the object). You’re telling your brain that you want to eat that object. Just to be clear, I have no quibble with what or how much you choose to eat! This is purely looking at how we use language and what tweaks we could try to become more and more ‘in choice’ about what we eat – so that we stop when we’re satisfied, whether that’s before or after the end of the ice cream.
When you identify with the object of ‘an ice cream’ you have the whole thing in your mind – the bowl, the cone, the tub.
What about your goal being the taste and experience of ice cream?
If you say to yourself instead, ‘I’m craving/ I want the taste and experience of ice cream‘ – you’re giving your brain a powerful visceral instruction: ‘taste’ and ‘experience’ – and your brain relates very well to this kind of instruction. Can you see how this tweak in language might change both your experience of eating and your level of satisfaction?
It might take a few spoonfuls or licks of ice-cream for you to have the taste and experience you’re after. It might take more.
If your intention is to taste and experience ice-cream (as opposed to consume the object ‘ice-cream’) you’ll likely naturally:
- slow down
- notice the texture and temperature
- notice the different flavours
- notice how the taste changes
- notice your response
- notice whether it’s the taste and experience you wanted (in other words, are you enjoying it?)
- notice when you’ve achieved your goal
- or notice whether this particular one isn’t going to achieve what you wanted
- stop at that point
The purpose of this is not to control how much ice cream you’re eating.
It’s not a sneaky ‘hack’ to make you eat less.
It’s a way to train your brain to notice when you’re satisfied. Because when you’re satisfied, you can easily stop, without a battle, without an argument going on in your head and without willpower!
So… change the language you’re using for a while and notice what happens, and please let me know!
Hi, I'm Vania.
I'm passionate about helping you break free from the exhausting cycle of yo-yo dieting, body shame, overeating, bingeing, and emotional eating.
For decades, I was at war with my body and food. It wasn't until I found an approach which didn't involve strict rules, diets and a focus on weight, that my relationship with food and my body transformed into one of ease and peace. There’s a lightness in living when food no longer holds power over your thoughts. If you're seeking that kind of freedom — where food becomes simple and life feels full — I’d love to walk that journey with you.
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