mindfulness and your mouth

This post can go a couple of different ways.

1. think before you speak

2. think before you eat

I really do not feel like getting into the thoughtfulness of your actions with what you say or put out in digital medium because we all have a moral compass and know when we done did wrong by somebody or something we said.  As far as eating I can also go a million directions but instead I want to briefly dip my toe into the pool of EMOTIONAL EATING specifically.

I was at Fitbloggin this year and in the “intuitive eating” session and had to finally leave the room.  For me it was a dramatic wake-up call to the lack of mindful compassion many of us do not treat ourselves with.  I left wanting to bottle up the compassion, confidence, and mindfulness I regard myself with for anybody that was lacking.  I am not saying I am perfect, but with what I heard in that room I have a pretty good jump on many in this topic.

I am a yoga instructor and I am a Buddhist.  I am not Buddha though – I am not perfect.  What I am with these two qualifiers is someone who works everyday to be centered in my own truth of who I am with my imperfections.  I aim to be gentle with myself.  I aim to be mindful.

I had an eating disorder when I was younger that was pushed by my track coaches.  Adults telling a teenager that bulimia is o.k. is so not cool in hindsight.  Thankfully I had friends who saw what was happening that I eventually listened to them on the eighth or ninth attempt to talk to me (remember I am not perfect).  I worked through that but it was not related to my true self-esteem which is what it relates to for many adults dealing with emotional eating issues.

I have had emotional eating tendencies as an adult too.  Especially after my car accident and ensuing depression I ate my feelings since that is what I could control in the face of lack of mobility.  Dealing with that was a hurdle, but do-able.

For people on their journey dealing with emotional eating I wish you compassion as you work to find your triggers.  Finding them will be from a place of honesty that is easy to run from.  Yet stay still and examine them – why you feel guilty, mad, sad, guilty when x,y, or z happens.

I wish you wisdom as you begin to view food as a source of energy since it is calories needed to sustain your body.

I wish you joy as you find the nutrient dense options you enjoy that will nourish your caloric and nutrient needs plus satisfy your palate and creativity.

Food is a wonderful cultural tool that in our pop culture is too often villified – yet we have choices and can make it joyful again.

Best wishes as you find your balance if it is not there yet.  I say balance because as humans we tend to swing to extremes when learning something.

If you want to be so bold I would love to talk to you about what is holding you back or stalling you on your journey.  You can comment here or contact me via my email – bodhibearinfo/gmail.

What is working well on your journey these days? What are you actively trying to work to learn?

Namaste.