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When I was early on in recovery, I used to love inspirational quotes. I’d browse the card racks in Harvard Square’s Hidden Sweets and would occasionally buy a card or two, not knowing if I’d actually send it or just keep it.
One of my favorites was from the great Buddha himself -
“The secret of health for both body and mind is to not mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment both wisely and earnestly.”
I loved it. It made so much sense to me, especially when it came to practicing mindful eating.
One day (this is when I was living in Somerville) I had eaten a bit too much – wasn’t a binge, but it didn’t feel like mindful eating either. I admittedly felt ashamed for being full. And suddenly, I got really sick of that shame, and scrawled on the inside of that card,
“Eating a lot of food does not make you a bad person. The end!”
It was the first time I tried not to attach moral value to food.
And I carried that card around me in my wallet, an in-case-of-emergency lifeline. I looked at it when I was at work and triggered, or when someone had made a comment about how much I had eaten. While it felt surprisingly corny, it helped. I even put some quotes around my room to inspire me. I’m sure my roommate thought I was crazy, but that’s ok.
Now I keep a whole motivational stash in my purse – quotes and pictures both. I keep them in my Sonia Kashuk organizer. You can find some here - http://goo.gl/SB1Qy6.
What motivates you? How do you inspire yourself?
#TargetBeauty
#BH
