A two-week fast gave me a bunch of insights.
Probably because I did it in substance, not just in form. The goal was to give up my favorite foods and see how much power they had over me. So, along with the usual suspects, I temporarily said goodbye to innocent coffee and chocolate.
At first it was hard, but fortunately, I remembered Chinese pu-erh. I used to appreciate this tea, but then undeservedly abandoned it.
When the fast ended, coffee was the first thing on my mind. We had already clarified with it who is master over whom. I could drink it again without worrying.
Imagine my surprise when, after the first sip, I... couldn’t find the familiar taste. I remembered and wanted the drink somehow differently. And with this “new” coffee, my desire to drink it four times a day disappeared.
I also experienced its stimulating effect differently. Since I am familiar with altered states of consciousness, the contrast made me realize how much a single cup can shift the emphasis in your perception.
That is neither good nor bad. It is simply something to keep in mind, for example, if you are about to have an emotional conversation or an important negotiation.
Let me say right away, I did not give up coffee. Nor did I give up chocolate (the changes there were similar). Especially since my sparring partner and I have what you might call a sacred ritual: going for coffee after training.
What matters more is how a pause in habitual behavior can reset everything, including what we consider constants: our preferences and desires.
Have you ever run experiments like this on yourself? What was your result?
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
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