why do we do the things we KNOW are bad?

[Purl]

I think I saw a thread about this awhile ago...it explained WHY we do the things that keep us unhealthy...anyone know what I am talking about?

[Raw Jewelrylady]

For me-I have been doing a lot of *self-work/play*. I think I was doing things that were unhealthy because I just did not take the time to really take care of ME ! I am learning that no one is going to do it for me & if I am not doing well-I am no good to anyone!

Start with a daily gratitude list. You will see how you view your life & everything/everyone around you. :)

Also..I never allow anything negative into my head anymore. Not an easy task...but I just don't go there. Negative thinking will get you nowhere..but positive thoughts...that's where hope/faith & promise come into play. :)

Out lives are a reflection of our thoughts. If we focus on negatives...we attract negative. But-we focus on positive & we attract positve. It's the Law of Attraction. :)

You can make it really complex & deep..but it is simple..Think good-positive things & you will want to do good things & you will attract good things. :)

Have a positive grateful day! ;)

I hope this helps..

Lana

[Apasaraw]

Sometimes I think these things happen out of habit. Something triggers us and we perform the action we've always performed without thinking. It's unconcious.

Me back in the day: "I'm ticked...hello chips!" crunch crunch.

Now it's "I'm ticked"...hello chips...you make me feel crappy chips...smoothie time. Now I don't even see the chip as a choice. I did put one in my mouth recently out of curiosity and spit it out it was sooo salty and gross.

Creating new habits has really helped me...it wasn't easy and there are many more to conquer. Does this make sense?

[dreamrawalwz]

For me, it's self-destruction. I need to shop that. I'm working on it and realizing what I need to do to love myself. It's a slow process, but I'm making some forward progress :)

[Nectarine]

I recently read an article online that discusses this very question, called Fasting and Addiction, by Ron Lagerquist. In this article, Ron asserts that we seek comfort in, and create positive, reassuring emotional associations with certain destructive, hard-to-break habits that in the past have gotten us through some tough times. For us, our bad habits (addictions to unhealthy foods, recreational or pharmaceutical drugs, including cigarettes and alcohol, and even pornography for those that are so inclined) are safe places to hide from the emotional pain and scarring in our lives. So, trying to kick our bad habits is like walking away from family (people who have supported us in our times of need) forever, and never wanting to see them again.

[Universal]

I recently read an article online that discusses this very question, called Fasting and Addiction, by Ron Lagerquist. In this article, Ron asserts that we seek comfort in, and create positive, reassuring emotional associations with certain destructive, hard-to-break habits that in the past have gotten us through some tough times. For us, our bad habits (addictions to unhealthy foods, recreational or pharmaceutical drugs, including cigarettes and alcohol, and even pornography for those that are so inclined) are safe places to hide from the emotional pain and scarring in our lives. So, trying to kick our bad habits is like walking away from family (people who have supported us in our times of need) forever, and never wanting to see them again.

I can see some truth in this assertion. What this ought to do is further emphasize how important it is for us to stay raw at all costs. Addiction breeds further addiction. Some of us are a lot better than others at controlling our urges to binge on something unhealthy (whether it's cooked food, drugs, etc.). The key is to remain positive and develop new (healthier) habits to replace the old (unhealthier) habits.
So rather than reaching for the chips, instead we would reach for some cashews.

[Svadhyaya]

Ron Lagerquist is exactly right.
In my case, overeating numbed the pain of several extremely difficult trials in my life and now that the trials are over and my life is wonderful, it's a hard thing to let go of - the "comfort" that eating for pleasure brings.

Food habits are hard to break.
I quit smoking (another hard one) without too much trouble, but this food thing is a real pain.

[Nectarine]

I can see some truth in this assertion. What this ought to do is further emphasize how important it is for us to stay raw at all costs. Addiction breeds further addiction. Some of us are a lot better than others at controlling our urges to binge on something unhealthy (whether it's cooked food, drugs, etc.). The key is to remain positive and develop new (healthier) habits to replace the old (unhealthier) habits.
So rather than reaching for the chips, instead we would reach for some cashews.


Creating new, healthier associations and ultimately more fulfilling lifestyle habits. Well said, and I wholeheartedly agree. Unfortunately, it can be a frustrating struggle to reach this point, and a lot of people give up before these changes they're making (or trying to make) can solidify themselves in a behavioural sense, and become permanent features in their lives. Those older emotional ties, to bad habits, maintain a strong hold on some people, but as you said, we must learn to trust in, and plan for, the future by developing a positive attitude. That's another point that Ron brings up: society's increasingly ingrained lack of faith in, and hope for, tomorrow. So many of us scratch and ferret for quick fixes and instant gratifications today (sugar and fat, drugs, sex without the commitment, violence etc), not caring about tomorrow, because who knows if tomorrow will even arrive? :( I believe this to be largely the fault of mainstream media outlets, television (especially the news with it's sensationalist approach to reporting) being the worst culprit. Moreover, these quick (but, in the long-term, destructive) fixes require, over time, that you indulge in them with increasing frequency, and in increasing amounts, to attain the same original level of satisfaction from them. Thus, as you accurately stated, addiction breeds yet more addiction.


Ron Lagerquist is exactly right.
In my case, overeating numbed the pain of several extremely difficult trials in my life and now that the trials are over and my life is wonderful, it's a hard thing to let go of - the "comfort" that eating for pleasure brings.

Food habits are hard to break.
I quit smoking (another hard one) without too much trouble, but this food thing is a real pain

What you have done, Svadhyaya, takes tremendous courage and strength, which only a relative few manage to accomplish in their lives, especially in emotional crutch-oriented Western society. I salute you!

[SiennaInLondon]

Because the bad things are the things that help us survive in the present. I posted this in the frozen fruit thread:

I am a big fan of frozen things. I mean for a start I always hated food when it was hot even when I ate cooked food. But my theory is that anything that we crave, that helps us live will kill us if we don't limit it (not moderation, I mean actual limitation).

For example, there are many studies on a plethora of animal species (from fruit flies to monkeys) that shows that calorie limitation improves life span by a staggering 40%. And some science students once told me as they came out of the relevant lecture (I forget the theoretical explanation) that the reason we die of old age is oxygen. Which is why the Nepalese are so fit. If they had the same wealth, medical facilities and ease of mind as we do in the west, I don't doubt that their life expectancy would be greater than ours. As for limiting sex. Well that is a work in progress ! But seriously, studies show that the more sexual partners you have or the earlier you started having sex, there greater chance there is of developing cancers such as cervical cancer.

Now the other thing the id craves, is heat. Which is why the cold is best in my book. Whether it is a cold shower or a frozen fruit.