I love that we (as a culture, perhaps) make up new words. “Hangry” is a popular one for me; it is great at conveying that the physical state of hunger, or a blood sugar crash, becomes so much more than just a physical problem. It effects you mentally and emotionally as well. But let’s flip that around. Can you be spiritually “hangry”? And does that bleed in to other areas of your life?

Physically Hangry

Before I go any further, I’m going to jot down the phases of physical hangriness as I experience them. This is fun.

DISTRACTION. Being a Focus Fox, I (normally passively) decide that whatever I’m currently doing is more important than eating. So I don’t refuel my body and a lot of time goes by. For a while, it’s no big deal.
NEGLECT. After some time, my body gets hungry and complains with tummy pangs or gurgles. I ignore those of course because I’m being productive!
MELTDOWN. Then I start to get tired or feel weak. I may get a headache. I have trouble thinking clearly. My mouth doesn’t want to make the word sense. My belly button is now trying to hug the backside of my spinal cord. This makes me unhappy.
FAILURE. Noticing my fatigue and mental failure, I get frustrated with myself and others. I can’t accomplish what I’m trying to accomplish! If someone tries to talk to me, I can’t respond as a normal human should. So now I behave like an angry cavewoman.
If I’m lucky, my husband rescues me by putting food in front of me and gives me time to eat, digest, and I return to a civil human being.
If I’m not lucky, I have a lot of apologizing to do later.

So yes, when you deprive your body of food it can effect your mind, emotions and behaviors. Therefore, “hangry” is a thing and it has taught me many hard lessons about taking care of my body.

Spiritually Hangry

Obviously we’re not just physical beings. We have souls, too, and those souls need to be fed also. I wish fried chicken and hushpuppies did the trick, but I’m talking about a different kind of soul food.

What does your spirit eat?
The greatest nourishment for your soul is unconditional love, acceptance, belonging and faith in something bigger than the crap life throws our way. This is what Jesus offered believers when He said “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.” in John 6:35. And this is what we are to offer each other; our friends and spouses, our kids and siblings, our neighbors and even strangers.

It’s not as concrete of an idea, but the repercussions of a starving spirit are not difficult to recognize. So here is how it plays out in my life:

DISTRACTION. Being easily distracted, I skip daily prayer/meditation and find reasons not to go to Church or a small group study. For a while, it’s no big deal.
NEGLECT. After some time, my spirit pangs with a craving for connection. I think of old friends or wish I had someone to talk too (which I totally do, but that wishing is the hunger that I sometimes push aside).
MELTDOWN. Then, I start to feel disconnected, misunderstood and unable to understand others. I fixate on mistakes from my past. I roll in to Negativity City. I exercise less. I eat crap food.
FAILURE. Noticing my crotchety-ness and miserable attitude, I’m more annoyed. I find more “reasons” to be miserable. I lose sight of my passion and purpose and instead assume failure. So I behave like a hermit and withdraw with a pan of dark chocolate brownies.
If I’m lucky, I hear a good sermon or worship song that revives me and my husband snaps me back to reality with a gentle caution about my attitude, and I return to a kinder, more loving person.
If I’m not lucky, I have a lot of apologizing to do later.

To recap: when you deprive our soul of love and connection with God and others, it can effect your mind, emotions and behaviors in a bad, bad way. Spiritual hangriness has taught me many painful lessons about taking care of my soul.

Being Hangry is a Choice

Good news is, you never have to be hangry physically or spiritually. You only have to decide to take care of yourself, and nourish your body and soul. Learn to recognize the pangs of hunger and satisfy it before it turns you in to a monster!

At least that’s the goal. Sometimes we make mistakes or let things get too far out of control. Part of training our mind, body, and soul is to learn from the mistakes and do better the next time around. That’s what I’m working on.