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Hi there and welcome to Radioheadspace.
I'm Dora.
So there was a period in my life recently where I caught myself stuck in a familiar loop.
I had just finished leading a meditation workshop, feeling grounded and at peace.
But as soon as I stepped away, I pulled out my phone and found myself scrolling mindlessly through social media.
Before I knew it, I was clicking links adding items to my online shopping cart like candles, notebooks and more plants, as if I needed more plants.
And none of these things were necessities.
Yet the desire to fill my life with something new and exciting felt irresistible.
When I finally paused, I had to ask myself honestly, What am I actually looking for in this moment?
And this moment reminded me of the five hindrances, common obstacles, that we encounter in our meditation practice.
These include desire, aversion, restlessness, sleepiness, and doubt.
In that instant, desire showed up clearly, pointing me toward an underlying looming restlessness.
Desire or craving can often feel like an itch.
We're desperate to scratch promising happiness or satisfaction.
If only we could have something more or something else.
But mindfulness teaches us something different.
It shows us that real satisfaction doesn't come from chasing every desire.
It emerges when we slow down enough to clearly see the craving itself.
There was a period in my meditation practice when desire became particularly noticeable.
I'd sat down on my cushion, determined to be present, to find calm and clarity.
Yet just moments into practice, my mind would wander towards something I wanted, something to eat later, a better meditation cushion or a perfect meditation spot.
I'd catch myself picturing idyllic places to practice, convinced it would make my meditation easier, more enjoyable.
At first, I reacted with frustration.
I scolded myself for not staying focused, telling myself that good meditators didn't get distracted by these trivial wants.
But gradually, my mindfulness practice invited a different approach.
Rather than pushing desire away or judging it, I started simply noticing it, gently observing it.
One afternoon, as I sat meditating in my usual spot, I felt a strong impulse to get up, make tea, rearrange my space, anything other than simply sitting still.
This time, instead of giving in or fighting it, I sat with the feeling itself.
I observed the restless craving rising in my chest.
I noticed the sensation in my fingertips, the subtle tightening in my stomach.
I took slow, deep breaths, softly repeating, this is desire.
As I sat there holding this craving with gentle curiosity, something interesting happened.
The sensation, rather than intensifying or overwhelming me, slowly began to soften.
The edges of that wanting loosened, and beneath it, I could find a quiet sense of ease.
Now, it wasn't that that desire disappeared entirely, but it no longer felt urgent or controlling.
With that awareness, I recognized craving for what it was a transient state, a passing wave, not something I needed to immediately fulfill or erase.
The more I practiced this gentle noticing and meditation, the easier it became to carry it into daily life.
When I noticed myself reaching impulsively for my phone, food or a distraction, I'd pause just briefly.
Enough to breathe, notice the craving, and remember that I had a choice in how to respond.
With practice, these cravings began to lose their power.
They were still present, but less overwhelming and less compelling.
Over the years, I've realized mindfulness isn't about eliminating desire altogether.
Desire is natural.
It's a part of being human.
But mindfulness offers us a way to relate to desire wisely, to witness it clearly without automatically chasing it, which opens up a different kind of freedom.
It allows us to see that craving something doesn't necessarily mean we must have it.
And in that recognition we find the space to choose what genuinely nourishes us rather than what merely distracts us.
So if you notice desire or craving arising in your own meditation or daily life, first know this.
You're not doing anything wrong.
Desire is a natural human experience.
It doesn't mean your practice is failing.
It means you're human.
Try this gentle practice when you notice desire.
Pause for a moment and silently name what you're feeling.
Like this is craving or this is wanting or desire or striving.
Notice how it shows up in your body.
Maybe a tightness, restlessness or warmth.
Breathe gently.
Allow the sensation to be there without trying to push it away or act on it.
You can ask yourself kindly, what am I truly seeking right now?
This curiosity helps break the automatic response to desire and opens up a pathway back to presence.
Mindfulness isn't a way to never feel craving again.
Rather, it offers a path to respond wisely when desire inevitably arises.
The next time craving pulls at your attention.
Remember that each dental pause, each breath, each moment of noticing strengthens your ability to stay steady in the face of life's many distractions.
So for today, if you find yourself wanting, craving or chasing after something to fill a space inside, you try pausing instead.
Remember, desire doesn't need immediate action.
Often, it simply needs gentle acknowledgement.
Stay curious, breathe deeply. and know that every mindful moment counts.
Thanks for joining me and I'll see you tomorrow.
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