dialogue with desire

It's a strange animal -- desire. It is intense in its urgency, yet it dies so slowly. The more you starve it, the bigger it grows, threatening to consume your every quark and atom. Unfulfilled desire is the most difficult animal of all. It is both fire in your belly and ice in your heart. How can one deal with something like this, manage a feeling that thrives on its unmanageability?

I'm dealing with this myself (compounded by regret -- not a nice feeling). At first, I tried kicking it out, forcing it out of my system because "I just can't handle it anymore". It wasn't working. These days, I'm trying to find peace by simply acknowledging it's there, letting it sit with me, trying to make friends with it...

"Hello, desire.

How are you?

I know you're in there.

I can feel you all hot and squiggly and eager to burst out of my skin.

I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill you when you wanted.

But i'm working on it.

Would you mind just sitting there quietly for a while?

I have to work on some things first so I can pay you the attention you deserve.

Can you please just sit there for a bit?

I promise we will have our talk and our time soon."

And after a deep breath, I sense that it stills. Thank God! 

Acknowledge, accept, make friends - sounds like a great formula for anything :)