Most of our life is spent resisting, reacting, or avoiding our negative emotions. This is exactly what we do when we overeat. We react to our urges and avoid the negative aspects of our lives by turning to food to comfort us and dampen these unpleasant feelings.
On Day 20 I discussed the crucial skill of learning to allow or process emotions, particularly negative ones.
When you make the decision to stop overeating, some misery is essentially guaranteed.
It’s OK.
It’s expected.
I would even argue that it’s desired.
You want the misery to come up because it is the perfect opportunity to finally learn how to allow and process your emotions.
Remember, the reason you are overeating is because you have NOT learned this important skill.
The misery you feel when you stop overeating is part of the process of learning this skill and also the reason you are overeating to begin with.
If you start overeating again, you have lost the opportunity to sharpen this incredibly valuable skill.
When you stop overeating, you WILL experience several days to several weeks of discomfort based on many physical and emotional effects.
Some of the physical effects can include headaches, general weakness, urges, hunger, cravings, mild dizziness and others.
Some of the emotional effects can include irritation, self-pity, deprivation, anxiety, food-focused thinking and many more.
These effects do NOT mean something has gone wrong. Eventually, your hormones will balance out, your taste buds will adapt (ex. I can’t imagine sugar in my coffee now, while before I couldn’t imagine coffee without it), and you’ll feel better than you have in years. You’ll notice more energy, less hunger and cravings, less bloating and stomach discomfort.
When you stop overeating, you will for sure feel some discomfort.
You have been wired and taught to AVOID discomfort at all costs.
But that thinking will keep you from your dreams.
In order to accomplish your dreams, you have to grow into the next best version of yourself.
Growth requires discomfort.
Without discomfort, there is no growth.
Without discomfort, there is no growth. Growth requires discomfort.
Mindful Doc Mom
Think of discomfort like growing pains. They are just part of the process.
Discomfort is the currency of your dreams. It is the price you pay. Period.
We have been taught to think of discomfort as a red stop sign.
I want you to now see discomfort as a green light.
It means GO. It means you are on the right track. It means you are growing and expanding.
Discomfort means being willing to have an urge and allow that urge instead of acting on it, avoiding it, or resisting it.
Discomfort means you are willing to allow 100 urges because once you do that, you are going to become an emotional Jedi master of urges and the urges will no longer even exist or have a hold on you.
Are you ready to embrace discomfort?
If you know that discomfort is necessary to reach your goal, are you willing to feel it?
Do you want help practicing this important skill that will lead you to your dreams? You can schedule a free call to learn more at my link below and take the first step in the right direction.
