Life is Beautiful

Life is beautiful. It is complex and it has many twists and turns, but it has a quality of freedom and the opportunity for constant self-creationism that, with the right mindset, allows each of us to feel exuberant, passionate, alive and fulfilled whether we are accepting a Nobel prize, giving birth, beginning or ending a relationship, washing the dishes or stuck in rush-hour traffic. But what about someone who doesn’t have the “right” mindset? What about someone who, however it came to be, doesn’t see the world as their oyster of creation but instead sees themselves as undeserving of what they desire; who sees themselves as “not good enough”? How do they navigate the stress of accepting an award, having a child, ending a relationship or that inevitable traffic jam? Mostly likely they’ve developed patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving called “coping strategies” that allow them to feel some degree of safety and security in their world. Coping strategies take many forms. One primary coping strategy that many people in our society develop is a preoccupation with appearance and with their relationship with food, either in a restricting or overeating way. If we’re having a stressful time with our relationship with food or feeling a great deal of judgement towards our bodies, we know one thing for certain, we’re feeling so overwhelmed with some other aspect(s) of our life that we felt the need, however consciously, to preoccupy ourselves with food and body image. The truth is that your relationship with food will be free and easy, relaxed and peaceful UNLESS you are using food to cope with some underlying problem that you believe is out of your control. You won’t overeat or feel the need to restrict because you’ll only feel called to eat when you’re hungry, and you’ll be present enough in your world and in your body to know when you’re full and to stop. Therefore, whether you’re overweight or underweight, it’s a sign you’re using food to cope because of some underlying problem. Food itself isn’t the problem, neither is your body. Your relationship with food and your body are symptomatic of how overwhelmed you feel by other aspects of your life. Find out and heal what’s really triggering your overwhelm and you’ll have the key to forever overcoming your stressful relationship with food and your feelings of frustration and loathing for your body. The path is simple and lasts a lifetime. If you’re ready to find out what’s really up with you and how to resolve it respectfully and completely, let me support you with my simple, clear and effective approach. Whether you prefer one-on-one counselling (in-person, by phone, or email), our intensive and transformative workshops, or the more self-help approach, take action today to have a stress-free relationship with food. Life is far too short to waste one more day. Love Michelle