Life, Perspective, What Are You Hungry For

What Are You Hungry For?

Jeanne Takenaka
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Image courtesy of keattikorn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Recently, my friend, Mary, stopped by for a chat. Mary is working to develop better eating habits. Her friend gave her a question to ponder before she opens the refrigerator. “What are you hungry for?”

At face value, this question can deal with food. Are you hungry for sweets? Fruit? Veggies? Grains? That’s where my mind went. Mary took this question deeper. When she reaches for food, what is she hungry for? Relief from loneliness, perhaps?

This got me thinking. When I reach for my favorite Jelly Bellies, or for  chocolate, or for fruit and it’s not to fill a physical hunger, what need am I attempting to meet? For that matter, when I tune into Facebook for an hour or more, or spend a lot of time on blogs, what void am I trying to fill? Am I seeking a connection with online friends and acquaintances? My answer is yes. Usually, I feel isolated and look for that temporary “fix” for the loneliness.

Most of us have deeper needs we either ignore or try to fill up with substitutes. Whether it’s food,Image busy-ness, or other fillers, these substitutes will only sate our hunger for a short time. Sometimes the key to satisfying the hunger within us is to figure out what’s behind it. Taking time to pinpoint what drives us to certain behaviors or cravings can be the first step to understanding the internal issues we face.

My friend is posting that question on her fridge. It will help her evaluate what hunger she’s striving to fill. I might just place that question next to my computer. When I’m tempted to browse rather than write, I can think about what need I’m trying to satisfy.

What about you: What are you hungry for? What substitutes have you used to fill an internal need?

Published by Jeanne Takenaka

Award winning aspiring novelist, Jeanne Takenaka, writes contemporary inspirational fiction that tackles real life issues with a heart to draw women closer to God and those around them. She lives near the mountains in Colorado with her amazing husband and two exuberant boy-men. She loves being God’s girl—always learning about His grace, hanging out with friends and enjoying a great cup of coffee. When she’s not writing you can find her with a camera in her hand, looking for #alittlebitofpretty in her days.

9 thoughts on “What Are You Hungry For?”

  1. Great thoughts, Jeanne. I’ve never thought about what need I’m filling when I spend time on Facebook or some other social media outlet-but it really is a hunger for connection and acceptance. Something to ponder, for sure.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Gabrielle. I hadn’t really thought about it in these terms until my friend mentioned it either. 🙂 I’ve been challenged to consider those deeper needs I’m trying to fill. Have fun pondering. 🙂

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  2. Great question! My feet take me to the kitchen at odd times to peruse the frig, the freezer, the cabinet. Usually it is a salt or sweet craving, so it’s not hunger. What’s missing inside? Am I not being the ‘salt of the earth’, obeying the fullness of what God is calling me to? A craving worth investigating. . .

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    1. Mom, you take this question in a new direction. Will we be filled if we fulfill God’s calling on our lives? You’ve got me pondering now. 🙂 Thanks for chiming in.

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  5. Pingback: Loneliness….That Old Chestnut | Distracted Martin

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