Why You Should Fast (Do Hard Things)

Last week, I went on a 3-day fast.

Not because I'm fat. Not because I'm religious.

I did it because I can. I wanted to see if I could handle it.

Day-to-day

On day 1, I felt hungry at times I normally eat. At 8 in the morning, I have this huge craving for food. But this craving passes after 30 minutes.

The same happens at 1 pm and 7 pm. Huge cravings for food, but passes after half an hour.

What I learned from this is that 95% of the time, we eat because we are bored. As a distraction. For a short boost of pleasure.

On day 2, I was even more hungry. My thoughts began to change. I could only think about eating. But my craving was gone.

My mind tried to talk me into eating. You list all the reasons why you should eat. But you can also talk yourself out of it.

What I learned from this is that you can (and have) to be stronger than your mind and instincts. We have a free will. But we often forget this and live on auto-pilot.

Day 3 is the easiest. Your hunger is gone. Your senses are razor-sharp. And all you think about is what to eat in the evening.

What I learned from this is that we take the simple things for granted. We mindlessly consume our food without tasting it. That first bite after nothing for 72 hours was mindblowing. I almost cried with happiness.

Your mind dictates your reality

Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right..” - Henry Ford

3 days without food is physically easy. Your body can handle it. You know you won't starve to death.

It's your thoughts, your mind that makes it difficult. You talk yourself out of it. Your instincts come up. You have to be strong-minded not to give in.

And that's scary because you know that fasting doesn't hurt you physically. But you can't convince your mind of that. You are constantly at war with your thoughts.

At the end of the 3 days, you look back and think to yourself: "That was easy. What was all the fuss about?" But during the fast, your mind is a liability. Not an asset.

We can use this in other areas of our life.

Waking up early (say 5 AM) has so many benefits. But when you try to wake up at 5 AM, your mind comes up with 1000 excuses why to stay in bed.

Reading before bed instead of Netflix is 100x better. But when you try to read instead of watching television, your mind has 100 reasons why you shouldn't.

The same with working out. The same with drinking alcohol. The same with every instant gratification - delayed gratification activity.

Your mind pushes you to go for the instant gratification activity. If you are weak, you give in.

Do hard things

You can train your resistance against weakness.

Train legs. Run. Fast. Read. Meditate.

All these things build your resistance against weakness.

Otherwise, you'll be a product of your mind. Instead of the other way around.

Cheers,

VK