Are you enjoying the festive season so far?
At this time of year, it seems like there are treats wherever you turn.
Whether it’s party food or those big tubs of sweets, festive food is everywhere.
It can be so easy to munch your way through loads of chocolates, and not even realise it – until you’ve collected up the wrappers!
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with eating treats and chocolate at Christmas.
But if we’re eating them without really enjoying them, we can end up just feeling rubbish about it – looking at the wrappers or the empty box and wishing we’d eaten a little less.
These days it’s so easy to just mindlessly munch our way through an enormous bag of crisps or a big box of chocolates without even really noticing.
Distracted by the TV, or a conversation, or our phones, we only half notice what we’re putting into our mouths.
And that can leave us feeling bloated, fed up and perhaps even a little shameful – none of those add up to mental sunshine!
So – let’s take 5 minutes to do a little thought experiment.
Imagine you’re on the phone to a friend.
As you’re chatting there’s a box of chocolates on the side, and so grab one and pop it in your mouth.
You’re mid-conversation, so you chew it up quickly and swallow so that you can continue your conversation.
Did you enjoy that chocolate?
Did you even taste it?
Now compare that experience with this one:
You finish your conversation, put the phone down and then put another piece of chocolate into your mouth.
You stop what you’re doing, and really stop to taste the chocolate.
You feel it melting in your mouth, the flavour spreading over your tongue
It takes you more than twice as long to eat this chocolate as the last one.
And you really enjoy it.
Can you see the difference between those two experiences?
At this time of year, we all often unnecessarily overindulge.
If you want to eat the chocolate, eat the chocolate.
But if you’re going to have a treat, give yourself a moment to stop and appreciate it.
Really pay attention to how it tastes and feels.
Really allow yourself the time to enjoy it.
I hope you enjoy the next chocolate you eat!