What is Your Mind Full Of When You Feel Empty?

By on March 20, 2009 in Food & Nutrition

A koan is a kind of question used as a training device in the Buddhist tradition, designed to help the aspirant attain a degree of clarity. I’m sure you’ve come across these zany questions before ("What’s the sound of one hand clapping?" or "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it make a sound?").

Here’s an emotional eating koan for you to meditate on…

What is your mind full of when you feel empty?

Below is the previous eating koan that I posed:

Does food have a taste when it is eaten without awareness?

What do you think?

Pavel Somov, Ph.D., author of "Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time" (New Harbinger, 2008)

www.eatingthemoment.com

About pavel.somov

My intent is to help you reclaim eating moments of your life with meaning and moderation; to help you leverage self-acceptance and compassion; and to help you rediscover your essential self. I am a licensed psychologist, in private practice, in Pittsburgh, PA; author of "Eating the Moment," "Present Perfect," "The Lotus Effect" (2010). http://www.eatingthemoment.com http://www.drsomov.com http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pavel-somov
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13 Responses to What is Your Mind Full Of When You Feel Empty?

  1. letgod March 20, 2009 at 9:54 am #

    I think I'll start a paper journal dedicated to this question and other stuff related to eating.

  2. careforall March 20, 2009 at 9:58 am #

    Does food have a taste when it is eaten without awareness? my answer : No

  3. careforall March 20, 2009 at 9:59 am #

    Thanks Pavel from bringing out this mindfull eating advice on Intent , It has really changed my eating habit and made it more enjoyable .

  4. pavel.somov March 20, 2009 at 10:16 am #

    Exactly, Careforall. So, what's the implication for emotional eating?

    Pavel Somov, Ph.D., licensed psychologist, author of "Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time" (New Harbinger, 2008) http://www.eatingthemoment.com

  5. pavel.somov March 20, 2009 at 10:17 am #

    Great idea, A.

    Pavel Somov, Ph.D., licensed psychologist, author of "Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time" (New Harbinger, 2008) http://www.eatingthemoment.com

  6. yumi March 20, 2009 at 10:19 am #

    My mind is full of what I would want to be eating right now. Ah, the age-old ghost of desire! :)

  7. mallika.chopra March 20, 2009 at 10:52 am #

    Your title, and this koan, really made me think… THank you for this post!

    Mallika

  8. mallika.chopra March 20, 2009 at 11:00 am #

    Right after reading this post, I read this post by my father on Koans. Couldnt be a coincidence!
    http://www.intent.com/blog/2009/01/09/caged-tiger…

  9. pavel.somov March 20, 2009 at 11:13 am #

    Hi Mallika: thanks for your kind words. Coincidences or synchronicity? Who knows. Once again, thanks for feedback.

    Pavel

    Pavel Somov, Ph.D., licensed psychologist, author of "Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time" (New Harbinger, 2008) http://www.eatingthemoment.com

  10. enimrac March 20, 2009 at 5:49 pm #

    longing.

  11. pavel.somov March 21, 2009 at 5:17 am #

    What would we do without this libidinous energy of desire?!

    Pavel Somov, Ph.D., licensed psychologist, author of "Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time" (New Harbinger, 2008) http://www.eatingthemoment.com

  12. pavel.somov March 21, 2009 at 5:18 am #

    longing – another restless synonym to the word "desire"

    thanks, Kafka M

    Pavel Somov, Ph.D., licensed psychologist, author of "Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time" (New Harbinger, 2008) http://www.eatingthemoment.com

  13. Katy Allgeyer March 21, 2009 at 7:15 am #

    Awareness makes me want to prolong the moment (hopefully wiithout putting another forkful in my mouth!?!).

    I'd love to interview you for my blog.

    Katy Allgeyer

    Feng Shui By Fishgirl
    http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com