Internal Auditing...Body,Mind and Beyond...Power of Consistency - Series - 2

 

The story emphasizes the transformative journeys of one my of friend’s parents and the values they instilled. The mother, who started exercising in her 40s, gradually progressed from running short distances to completing marathons, triathlons, and finally trekking to Mount Everest’s base camp. The father, a science enthusiast, engaged his child in learning and even served as their calculus teacher. These experiences shaped my friend’s perspective on life—learning the importance of health from their mother and the value of science from their father.

 The epidemic of unhealthy living. While tobacco and obesity remain among the most preventable causes of premature death, they persist worldwide despite decades of awareness campaigns. It likens solving this crisis to assembling a puzzle—many factors contribute to unhealthy habits, including genetics, neurotransmitters, peer influence, and media. However, one crucial factor remains within our control: our personal choices regarding cravings and addictive behaviors.

A novel approach to self-control, called "willingness," challenges conventional methods that encourage suppressing or avoiding cravings. Instead, willingness promotes accepting cravings without acting upon them. 

A person may be initially skeptical, eventually embracing the concept after attending a workshop. This approach, rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, is now being applied to help individuals manage addictions, reduce anxiety, and even enhance workplace performance.

What I would like to highlight is their research, which explores willingness-based interventions for smoking cessation. Trials conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center suggest that willingness may significantly improve quitting success rates compared to traditional avoidance strategies. 

They conclude with a case study of James , a longtime smoker attempting to quit. His initial skepticism gives way to realization—through tracking cravings, he recognizes how much smoking had become an unconscious habit. This story underscores the potential of willingness as a tool for behavior change.

 

By rephrasing his thoughts, he was able to recognize them without acting upon them.

Beyond cravings, James also faced external judgment—criticism from others, self-loathing, and the cycle of shame that pushed him back into smoking. He was encouraged to extend compassion toward himself, just as he would for a struggling friend. 

This simple act of kindness helped him ease the grip of shame and approach her cravings with a new perspective.

I would like to introduce an insightful metaphor—the tug-of-war with the "craving monster." Instead of resisting cravings and engaging in an exhausting battle, one can "drop the rope," allowing the craving to be present without acting on it. Over time, this approach can help diminish the craving’s power.

To conclude, I would like to encourage the readers to observe their own cravings at lunch, treating themselves with care and kindness. This, it is suggested, is the true mountain everyone is climbing—learning to navigate urges, emotions, and self-control with mindfulness and compassion.

Warm regards.

To be continued.......