The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer

by Elizabeth Blackburn

SURF YOUR CRAVINGS Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Picture the snack or treat you’re craving: Conjure up its texture, its color, its smell. As the image becomes vivid, let yourself feel your craving. Let your attention wander throughout your body to observe the nature of this craving. Describe this craving to yourself. What are its sensations and its qualities? What are the shapes, sensations, and any thoughts or feelings associated with it? Where is it located in your body? Does it change as you notice it, or as you exhale? Feel any discomfort. Remind yourself this is not an itch that needs to be scratched. This is a feeling that changes and will pass. Perhaps imagine it as a wave that builds, crests, and dissipates back into the ocean. Breathe into the sensation, and let it release tension, as you notice the waves falling back gently. You might put your attention and your hand on your heart, imagining a sense of warmth and kindness flowing outward from your heart. Let this sense of warmth spread throughout your body, enveloping the sense of craving with loving-kindness. Take a moment just breathing in this feeling of compassion for yourself. Now look at the image of the food again. What has changed? What are you aware of? You can experience the craving without acting on it. Just notice it, breathe, and envelope it with a sense of loving-kindness.