You’ve heard the expression, “Don’t eat your feelings,” haven’t you?
Well, it’s really good advice – largely because it’s so easy for so many people to do just that!
We get frustrated, sad, bored, anxious… and mindless eating is always a handy way to self-medicate.
But guess what? We don’t have to fall victim to that pattern anymore. We can practice mindful eating habits for our emotional wellness. It’s good not only for our bodies, by reducing our overeating, but also for our minds, by nurturing us to find healthier ways to cope with our feelings.
What is mindful eating?
It’s basically paying attention to ourselves and our body’s cues, like feeling hunger or feeling like we’ve had enough to eat. It’s staying in the present moment as much as possible, and trying to realize what’s causing you to feel, think – or eat – a certain way.
It involves paying more attention to our food – where it comes from, how it’s prepared, how it tastes, smells, etc. It means eating slowly, with deliberate awareness.
And it can help you be kinder to yourself and less condemning… lowering anxiety and depression… and leading to, yes, improved emotional wellness.
I like this concept because it makes simple sense, doesn’t it? When my emotions drive my behavior in a negative way, I can condemn myself and make it worse… or I can pause and learn from the experience.
When I note my thoughts, actions, and reactions to things – and how they affect my behavior – then I’m able to learn about myself. And that’s one step closer to becoming the healthy person I long to be.
Look, we all fall into tailspins sometimes. Life can be upsetting, and food can be a comfort.
But by practicing mindful eating, we can start to set ourselves free. It’s a synergistic approach involving your mind and your body – and both benefit.
So, try it at your next meal and for the next few days. Just pay attention to yourself – don’t judge. And the next time you want to grab handy food because you’re angry or lonely or tired … take a breath, notice how you’re feeling, and do the next right thing.
It gets easier and easier to take the right action.
