Cravings | Artful Balance

Some days I wake up feeling fanciful.

My inner world is bright and sunny and made for frolicking (with complete disregard for my actual schedule or the actual weather conditions).

I first notice it during meditation, when my mind is in a bit of a tizzy. My chest feels expansive – eager, motivated, like i can't do things fast enough – and my schedule and disciplines are just pesky constraints getting in the way of what could be rapid-fire productivity.

I'm craving results, and they're just over there, away from my notebook and long-term goals. The quicker I set to them, the quicker I get the satisfaction of having done something.

Cravings aren't always indicators of my needs, though.

I need this discipline, this bridle, this tether. It keeps me grounded, focused, and says, "Go ahead, take all the time it takes for you to grow." It doesn't let my cravings crowd out the space growth calls for.

Cravings say, "Quick, grab this chance at feeling good before it's gone," (though you won't feel good for long, and in reality, you can indulge this craving at any time in the future, too.)

It's not that cravings should never be indulged. It's that they are a form of instant gratification, and my real growth needs do not have a quick fix.