As part of my studies to become an interfaith minister, I have been reading about Buddhism this week. A key element of the Buddhist teaching is the Eightfold Path toward enlightenment. Two of the eight steps on the Path are “right speech” and “right conduct,” focusing on developing language and behaviour that are truthful and kind.
What struck me was the way students are instructed to grow in these areas. The first step is to notice. Just to notice where words and actions may deviate from compassion and truth. The second step is to gradually
change behaviours in the direction of the desired qualities.
How enlightened would we be if we used this process with weight loss?
What would it be like to just notice when we feel like binging? Just notice
that we’re full but we want to keep eating? Nothing to do. Nothing to
change. Just notice.
What would it be like to just move in the direction of healthy eating? No
crash diets, no declarations that we’ll never eat chocolate again. Just
small precious little steps in the direction of health.
I invite you to try it. Just notice. Then just take tiny steps in the
direction of health.
What struck me was the way students are instructed to grow in these areas. The first step is to notice. Just to notice where words and actions may deviate from compassion and truth. The second step is to gradually
change behaviours in the direction of the desired qualities.
How enlightened would we be if we used this process with weight loss?
What would it be like to just notice when we feel like binging? Just notice
that we’re full but we want to keep eating? Nothing to do. Nothing to
change. Just notice.
What would it be like to just move in the direction of healthy eating? No
crash diets, no declarations that we’ll never eat chocolate again. Just
small precious little steps in the direction of health.
I invite you to try it. Just notice. Then just take tiny steps in the
direction of health.
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