Plethora.
This is the year I am going to do it. I am going to do restrict the entire week before Thanksgiving. I am going to workout, extra hard, even on the day of to make up for all the extra calories I will have earned. I might be in such a state of famine that the extra slices of pie will be converted to the then devastated muscle tissue.
Logic has a funny way of being illogical. The contradiction here should entertain as well as intrigue. What is true in our minds is true to us. Even if "science" (yes I meant the quotes) deems our truth as false, we might not choose to recognize this "science." Outsiders may deem our view of the truth as "wrong" though that really doesn't matter to us, does it?
I think that even the most passive people stand up for what they believe in. Even if it is in their own head. I believe that some of the most feeble-minded people have the most concrete beliefs. This is what makes them so feeble. The more unforgiving the belief, the more likely it is behind passivity and avoiding conflict or opposing views. Worse yet, becoming emotionally involved to the point of anger and hate for those who do not agree (ahem, politics).
Many more people than would admit, believe the initial thought depicted here today. As they are not wrong, per se, but I think with a different perspective this same thought process might actually be promoting the problem.
For instance, when over exhausting yourself in preparation for a meal such as Thanksgiving, yes, you burned calories, stimulated muscle, activated certain hormones that better regulate blood sugars thus reducing the need for as much insulin and about a million other factors, however what if it leads to a binge episode (typically reinforced on Thanksgiving) and a reinforcement of food being everything? What if in your attempt to "be better," you are actually reinforcing the part of you you want to change (the belief that food will make you happy)? What if, your "truth" is really the reason every New Year's Eve your goal for the next year is to "lose weight?"
Are you really promoting that goal by reinforcing the crutch of food and the pleasure connected? Are you truly getting towards the goal of more satisfaction in life? Is that too much to consider, so instead you stay superficial and put off these thoughts until "next time?" When are you going to take that stand for change? At what point are you going to try something different, not in just how much you exercise or how much you restrict the day before, "If I eat nothing then....," but inside, the deeper parts of you?
The difficulty is if you do not see this yet. If you are unaware of what satisfaction would even look like. You could be so far removed from peace and contentment that it might not even be a possibility to look for it. This not just with food, but in areas of life you might struggle with.
If you struggle in being around people and rely on being an introvert and that is truly OK with you, there is no problem. Yet, when you isolate and want the company of others, now we have a problem. Your behaviors are going against your beliefs and wants and therefore the turmoil is life-affecting. So, just like in the food example, you've got to change the behaviors. You can't keep planning a Friday night of isolation and expect things to get better. You've got to form a plan to get out, be social, go on a date. You'll be uncomfortable, you might even be miserable, but at least you tried. The next time could be better. "Could be" that is, for there are no guarantees.
The Holidays, or the next month to six weeks are a time of plethora, especially here in America. Whatever your goals are, this is the time to try and perceive something different in yourself, a real change. The all-or-nothing of avoiding the foods on the holiday might actually be reinforcing the belief about food's superiority. Instead, have a little, thus breaking a potentially "perfect" restriction, which may be more beneficial at decreasing the food's hold over you. If "some" is a struggle, such as I have experienced in my life, then sit with the discomfort. I promise you that things get easier, but change is difficult for a reason. If the body allowed change easily, what kind of vulnerable people would we be, falling for any trick under the sun.
Happy Thanksgiving Everybody.
God Bless.
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| "Gotta get my Fitbit steps up to justify the 4th helpings." |
I think that even the most passive people stand up for what they believe in. Even if it is in their own head. I believe that some of the most feeble-minded people have the most concrete beliefs. This is what makes them so feeble. The more unforgiving the belief, the more likely it is behind passivity and avoiding conflict or opposing views. Worse yet, becoming emotionally involved to the point of anger and hate for those who do not agree (ahem, politics).
Many more people than would admit, believe the initial thought depicted here today. As they are not wrong, per se, but I think with a different perspective this same thought process might actually be promoting the problem.
For instance, when over exhausting yourself in preparation for a meal such as Thanksgiving, yes, you burned calories, stimulated muscle, activated certain hormones that better regulate blood sugars thus reducing the need for as much insulin and about a million other factors, however what if it leads to a binge episode (typically reinforced on Thanksgiving) and a reinforcement of food being everything? What if in your attempt to "be better," you are actually reinforcing the part of you you want to change (the belief that food will make you happy)? What if, your "truth" is really the reason every New Year's Eve your goal for the next year is to "lose weight?"
 |
| Day after Thanksgiving be like... |
Are you really promoting that goal by reinforcing the crutch of food and the pleasure connected? Are you truly getting towards the goal of more satisfaction in life? Is that too much to consider, so instead you stay superficial and put off these thoughts until "next time?" When are you going to take that stand for change? At what point are you going to try something different, not in just how much you exercise or how much you restrict the day before, "If I eat nothing then....," but inside, the deeper parts of you?
The difficulty is if you do not see this yet. If you are unaware of what satisfaction would even look like. You could be so far removed from peace and contentment that it might not even be a possibility to look for it. This not just with food, but in areas of life you might struggle with.
If you struggle in being around people and rely on being an introvert and that is truly OK with you, there is no problem. Yet, when you isolate and want the company of others, now we have a problem. Your behaviors are going against your beliefs and wants and therefore the turmoil is life-affecting. So, just like in the food example, you've got to change the behaviors. You can't keep planning a Friday night of isolation and expect things to get better. You've got to form a plan to get out, be social, go on a date. You'll be uncomfortable, you might even be miserable, but at least you tried. The next time could be better. "Could be" that is, for there are no guarantees.The Holidays, or the next month to six weeks are a time of plethora, especially here in America. Whatever your goals are, this is the time to try and perceive something different in yourself, a real change. The all-or-nothing of avoiding the foods on the holiday might actually be reinforcing the belief about food's superiority. Instead, have a little, thus breaking a potentially "perfect" restriction, which may be more beneficial at decreasing the food's hold over you. If "some" is a struggle, such as I have experienced in my life, then sit with the discomfort. I promise you that things get easier, but change is difficult for a reason. If the body allowed change easily, what kind of vulnerable people would we be, falling for any trick under the sun.
Happy Thanksgiving Everybody.
God Bless.
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