This is the sentence that kept me awake for weeks in a row. Metaphorically speaking. But not quite.
When I read this sentence on a blog of which I can’t remember the name, something inside of me tossed and turned.
THIS was exactly the question that I needed to be asked. I’ve been struggling with this concept for as long as I can remember…ok, before the experience I am about to share with you.
Savouring or Consuming.
If you think about what it means exactly, it is either enjoying all there is to it OR ingesting it as soon as possible and feeling like you missed out on something (thus wanting more).
Maybe it is growing older, maybe it is becoming more aware of non-physical things. Fact of the matter is that I am done with not appreciating. I want to appreciate. I have to appreciate. There is so much wonder in life. Just life in itself is the most wondrous thing there is.
“Are you savouring or consuming” was the last drop that made my cup – what is this that I have to do in this life – runneth over.
If you read my first post, you know what my recent story is. If not or if you forgot, here’s the quick run down.
I went to Australia for nine months to leave all that was here (in Amsterdam) behind me to challenge myself and to experience other things than my usual day-to-day.
Since I’m back, I’m living life as life was intended to be lived. And for me that means seeing, experiencing, validating and appreciating what is there, right in front of me and letting go of what could’ve and what should’ve been.
You might not expect it, but the most important break through in this train of thought came when I entered a period of fasting.
I was part of an art experiment called the Starvation Experiment. Run by the Artist Arne Hendriks (also known of the Incredible Shrinking Man project) and together with 8 other people, we would eat next to nothing for a week.
Everyone’s reason for joining was different, but there was one common thread: We all felt that we were too much of a consumer, and not much of a savour.
After this week of fasting, which is now already over a month ago, my life has changed even more since the last time I took on something unbelievable over my comfort-zone limit.
I learned a few really basic and very easy things I want to share with you and hope will change as much for you as it did for me.
But first let me explain the goal of this experiment for me.
As I said, I always felt I was consuming and I was ready for savouring. I knew that I was consuming too much, but I did not know how much was “too much”. And with consuming I mean eating, buying, wanting, you name it, I thought it.
The Starvation Experiment was about eating as less as possible, but I hope you can feel that if you can cut down on food – and really feel that this is ok – you can also cut down on other things you know that are not necessary for your well-being.
As I said, I wish you all it has done for me:
– Being more connected to intangible energy forms
– Feeling extremely blessed with my time here
– Appreciating the smaller things
– Having energy to take anything on that I want to take on
– Meeting people that I want in my life
– Losing excess weight, literally and as a figure of speech.
Here’s how you can do this.
It all starts with intention. Here are 9 rules you should adhere to to kick start this wonderful state of mind:
1. Read up upon fasting.
2. Check with your doctor if this is suitable for you.
3. Collect a group of like-minded people that want to come along on this journey with you.
4. If you’ve got time and funds, go somewhere else other than home, because it is easy to have fall backs in environments you know and are used to.
5. Remember that this is a life changing experience.
6. Don’t fear hunger. Hunger is not bad, hunger is just information.
7. Trust that you can do it.
8. Enjoy the process! Because you will go through so many positive changes.
9. Check with your practitioner to decide if this is the way to go for you.
Yes I know, number 9 is the same as 2, but I don’t want you to take on things that are not your way to go at this point in time.
And remember, fasting is not eating nothing. It is eating far less than you did and what you eat is pure, comes straight from mother nature and is nourishing.
Good luck and please ask me any questions. I’d be happy to help you with it!
& Hearts,
Monique
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