Curiosity and fear typically do not coexist

"It is time to get curious! Being curious invites us to stay in the present moment and view our experiences in a calm and inquisitive manner. What might you discover in your eating experience today? Curiosity can be a useful way to focus attention, a place to return to. We can, at any time, return to being curious by asking questions and waiting for the answer in the moment. Curiosity and fear typically don’t coexist. When we are curious about something, fear recedes. When fear emerges, our curiosity usually becomes unavailable to us. So since fear and anxiety are common barriers to mindfulness around food, curiosity becomes a tool to help us stay on track. A curious stance also assists us in staying in the present. We may find ourselves curious about something in the future, such as “I wonder if this food will make me sleepy this afternoon?” We can’t know the answer until the afternoon comes, so this is an opportunity to come back to the present moment. Later, the question can be revisited in the present, “Do I feel sleepy now?”

How can you be more curious with your eating? Here are some questions to help prompt approaching your next meal or snack with a curious stance: I wonder what this bite will taste like?Am I hungry yet? What will hit the spot right now? What does it remind me of? What spices were used in here? Does this bite taste the same or a little different from the last one? Let’s see, what does my stomach feel like now?"- TCME World Minfdful Eating Month