How Convenience can Change the Way you Cope

On a client call today, my client told me food has always been the easiest coping mechanism / distraction/ outlet for her because with food, you see it multiple times a day and you’re faced with eating decisions or opportunities constantly.

But when it comes to other activities she enjoys like reading, painting, or finding a class online it’s not as accessible or front of her mind.

This hit home because it’s a recurring theme in most people’s lives.

Convenience of something like food makes it the first thing your mind might think of for comfort or freedom or control or relaxation since the pattern of turning to it in these times has been reinforced over and over again each time you’ve done this.

While you may not want to turn to food, it’s an inevitable part of your life.

You’re going to need to eat to live. So you need to be able to live with the food you need to eat.
Meaning, you can’t run from it!

But you can run toward other things & make them parts of your daily, weekly, bi weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly goals and routines!

Maybe you seek control through food so you choose to participate in something familiar each day or week to remind yourself you are in control.

Maybe you seek comfort so every morning you listen to relaxing music or at night you color under a heater blanket.

If you’re seeking peace or relaxation or an escape you might plan a monthly stay cation or a weekend getaway or every day you might schedule in breaks to breathe & connect back to yourself or lay in the sun.

It will require effort but just open up your calendar right now, & put one thing in there that can satisfy and fulfill you beyond food, over exercising, or fixation on your body.

Whatever you’re getting from the food, you can give to yourself in a new way & practicing this consistently can help condition your brain to think “I need some sunshine to feel better” before saying “I need some food”.

While these are more tangible ideas, it’s also important to honor that getting help is ok & having integrity & congruency with yourself is worth exploring.

#BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY

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