Just because some thought in the head says “I want to eat” after you already did—doesn’t mean you have to do what it says.
Who is The Decider?
You are an adult now. Of course you take suggestions under consideration, but then you are, or should be, the decider of what’s true and right and best for you.
Exercising more, eating less and better, are popular New Year’s Resolutions. And people really are onto something here because everything is connected to everything else.
When I ask my clients what one thing they think will most affect everything else in their lives, they very often say “my health,” even more often than “love” or “work” or “money” because they get how much their health and well-being can affect all of those.
Now in my own case, I want you to know that we are talking about 3 pounds, the same 3 pounds that showed up in the resolutions from 2019, 2018…just like 64% of resolution makers who keep showing up with the same resolutions year after year. The same 3 pounds that capture my attention every day too.
The reasons for this are well known and obvious to me, and probably not that interesting and important to you.
What Can We Do?
What I do believe is more important to you is that, when the same something keeps showing up year after year and day after day, there is something we can do to make the obsessive thing leave us alone.
How about if, every time the unhelpful thought occurs, we simply remind it and ourselves that it is not the boss of us.
It is no more than an irrational eruption of the mind that, in many cases, has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with food.
I am doing this as we speak. Would love it if you try it too, and let us know in the comments below what happened for you.
And if you don’t already have it, grab the “Power Breathing” exercise on “Complimentary Exercises” pulldown at madelaineweiss.com This should help!
Love to all,
Madelaine
I relate. And in those moments I try to connect those early thoughts of eat something now, with where are my shoes and how fast can I get out the door for some fresh air (even with a mask these days). I agree about the take a breath and turn that thought into a positive thought for myself. No one is going to do that for me. I challenge myself to add one more lifestyle enhancement which is not limited to but can include physically moving. Lately I’ve been hiking which means challenging myself to so many miles in a week. Love the fresh feeling. It’s a lifestyle enhancement opportunity I tell myself.
As my Dad used to say, “If you’ve got your health, you’ve got everything.” He meant that in an encouraging and take hopeful note sort of way, even though he complained about pretty much everything all of the time, including aches and pains and health concerns. He was saying it out loud, but maybe that was his way of reminding himself (and anybody else standing by, like me) that he was the “decider” and his own “boss.” On the otherhand, maybe he meant that ironically, as in “if only I had better health.” But my main reaction to your column today is that you worry about “3 pounds” — because you are trim and petite. My battle is about many more pounds than that, and especially since COVID pandemic started I have beenlosing the Battle rather than the pounds. Nevertheless, I am making my usual New Years Resolution to diet. My annual pre-Thanksgiving Plan to begin early failed miserably, as usual. — Steve (at Waterloo) N.
OMG, My mother used to say the same thing. And I think she said her mother said it. We used to make fun of her for saying that, but how right they are. And the point is that it doesn’t matter how many pounds but rather who is in charge! Are we in charge of the mind or the other way around. Ive started to call out of control thinking “mal-thinking.” What do you all think of that?
If I take my purse with me out I usually end up getting something. So now I try to take less with me when I leave the house and walk in areas without shopping places
Not perfect but it’s a start
Ha! Great point Mary Frances. Not just about food, this “who’s in charge” issue. About money too. Everything connected to everything else! Thx for bringing that to light, Mary Frances!