Benefits of fasting

Throughout our lives, it is easy to place unimportant things at the forefront of our lives and allow our minds to be led by these habits.  These unimportant things can easily cloud our minds, lives, and bodies with destructive outlets without our realizing it and it is important for us to identity them and detach ourselves from them.  One of the practices that allows such detachment is the practice of Fasting.

Fasting typically occurs for spiritual purposes, but fasting can be for emotional, mental, or physical reasons, as well. Every one has distractions or bad habits that if removed from our lives can improve our lives.  To begin fasting we have to acknowledge that some things are more attached to us than they should be.  This blog post focuses on four benefits that one can gain from the practice of fasting.

Benefit number 1:  Discipline

Fasting can help inculcate discipline into our lives because it causes us to set limits and boundaries.  It helps to teach us patience and makes it easy for us to manage ourselves, our time and the things we give our time to. It also makes it easy to become self-controlled.

Benefit number 2: Creating Time for important areas of our lives

It is often easy to spend majority of our time on meaningless things and then claim that we do not have enough time to spend on things that are important. Removing time-wasting habits allows us to have more time to focus on our goals and to engage in activities that allow us to invest in oneself.  Fasting from certain things provides more time to think, try new things, and renew our minds and spirit. The practice of fasting allows us to not be bogged down with inconsequential things.

Benefit number 3: Time for ew Activities

Related to number 2 above, the practice of fasting from unimportant things allows more time to explore and try new things, whether that is a new hobby, time with family or simply hanging out with friends. It is hard to know how much time we’re wasting until we release what’s restricting our time.

Benefit number 4: Increased confidence.

Fasting increases self discipline and creates a space for self awareness which results in a boost to one’s confidence.  It provides a space that allows one to correct areas in their life and makes it easy to stick to one’s goals and overcome obstacles that may seem impossible.

Some people are not sure whether to fast or not. Our hope is that the benefits above will pique your interest and allow you to consider the practice of fasting or at least have conversations about it with your mental health counselor. Feel free to reach out to us at Afangideh Therapy and let us know how we can help.

Fasting can lead to different results for everyone and it requires recognizing that a break is needed or to completely let go of something to commit to change.  Be guided by YOUR goals and what you believe is right for you.