In thinking about this and talking about it with others, I
was enlightened to a new way of thinking about food and my well-being that
makes a lot of sense to me and has already helped me change my
perspective. It’s not a diet, or a
cleanse, or a list of foods you can / can’t eat. It’s simply a shift in mentality.
Imagine you are taking care of a baby, or better yet a
toddler. A child you love dearly and
only want the very best for. Tap into
your maternal or paternal instinct, and think about how you want to nurture
this child, because you know what’s best for them, even when they express
otherwise.
Now, what do you feed this child? And when?
You want them to eat healthily
when they are hungry. As the person
feeding them, you ensure they are eating balanced meals in the right portions. You provide them with small treats as
indulgences, on occasion. When they throw
a tantrum because they want a second cookie, you kindly refuse their request
because you know what’s best for them.
In addition to ensuring their eating is balanced, you are also ensuring
they have physical activity each day, and are growing their minds through stimulating
activities.
So the question is, do you nurture yourself as you do this
child? Do you take care of yourself with
the same priority and intention? By
shifting our mindset to ensure we are taking care of ourselves with this same
nurturing, we’re able to see clearly what’s best for us. I’ve taken on this mentality this week and it’s
worked tremendously. I’m able to see the
priority of eating well, because this is what I'd do for my child. Instead of skipping lunch because I’m busy, I’m
stepping back, and making a healthy lunch I’d be proud to serve a person I
love. I can’t say my cravings have
stopped, but I’m able to turn on a conversation with myself similar to what a mother
would have with a child. I’m able to refuse my craving from a place of love…
for myself. This has helped me overall
to listen to my true needs – and understand the priorities for my well-being.
Go ahead and give it a try, and let me know what you think
of this approach. Do you already nurture
yourself? If so, what helps you to do
so? If not, what are you going to
change?
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