Mindful Eating: Let go

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."  Lao Tzu

Let go.  It's as simple as that. Okay, maybe not that simple because so many of us have been in a cold war with food for so long.  The internal conflict and tension around food is so high that some of us are afraid to make a move.  We're so worried that if we make a move, the wrong one, everything will collapse -- our self-esteem, our health, our relationships, our lives.  Well, I say it's time to denounce these potentially paralyzing thoughts and see them for what they really are...exaggerations, untruths, and saboteurs!  When working with clients who have such thoughts, I remind them that there is no need to keep account of their so-called "food crimes".  Food is not the enemy, it is the answer!  That is, if we let it be the answer.  Let go of the past, problems, pressures, expectations, exaggerations, judgments and all-or-nothing attitudes that we so often undermine ourselves with when it comes to eating. These adverse thoughts only serve to perpetuate a vicious cycle of potentially self-destructive behaviors and thoughts that continuously feed off of one another.  Allow some quiet space around your eating experience and surrender yourself to the pleasure and nourishment that eating offers.  The more you do this, the greater the sense of relief that you will feel.  And the greater you will trust your ability to eat intuitively.

Achieving harmony with food is not something that happens overnight. These negative thoughts have been programmed into some of our heads for a very long time, so it takes time, practice, and patience to learn to dial down the activity.  When the negativity enters your head, simply acknowledge the thought as that...just a thought and bring your focus back to the eating experience.  Instead of defend and conquer, let's reconcile and release ourselves from the power of food.  Only then will we truly be able to experience the satisfaction that savoring food offers and attain our best health and well-being.  Go after a life of health and wellness, you deserve it!

Although this ends my series on mindful eating, your growth and discovery need not stop here. For more guidance, I suggest these resources.

Books:

• Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works
• Eating the Moment: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time
• Eating Mindfully: How to End Mindless Eating and Enjoy a Balanced Relationship with Food
• Eat, Drink and Be Mindful: How to End Your Struggle with Mindless Eating and Start Savoring Food with Intention and Joy
• 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food
• Meal by Meal: 365 Daily Meditations for Finding Balance Through Mindful Eating
• Art of the Inner Meal: The Power of Mindful Practices to Heal Our Food Cravings
  
• Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle
•  Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food--includes CD

Websites:

• The Center for Mindful Eating 
• http://www.intuitiveeating.com/ 
  
• http://eatingmindfully.com/
• http://www.mindfulpractices.com/
• Online Mindful Eating classes