I was having a thought-provoking chat recently with the lovely Rachel Cassady (a client of mine). We found ourselves talking about how our thinking and awareness changes when we start eating healthier.
It reminded me of my own journey to better health and the emotions I went through…
Becoming hyper-aware of what’s healthy (and what isn’t) can happen for various reasons.
One reason
it happens is because once we become really excited and interested in eating healthy, we become super conscious of all of the food choices (good and bad) that we (and others) are making. It’s just because we’ve decided to become focused on making a change. It’s like the Law of Attraction, kinda. The same thing happens when we purchase a new car. We think it’s really unique and awesome… until we notice everyone else is driving the exact same car (after we’ve already made the purchase).
Another reason
this change can take place is because we feel restricted and deprived. Our new diet might feel difficult. We never allow ourselves any indulgences. We long for the days of not thinking about the foods we stick in our mouth. Now, we’re more aware than ever of the foods we’re eating, because we want to make the “right choices”. We watch other people in restaurants as they eat their dessert and wonder, “why can’t I have dessert, too”?
And yet another reason
this happens is because we’re super proud of our decision to change our eating habits. So proud that we may feel better than those around us that are still eating unhealthfully. Judgment creeps in. Superiority rules our shopping and dining experiences. We think we’ve got our shit together while everyone is failing miserably.
The last example happened to my husband and I a few years ago when we decided to juice for an entire week (by the way, I don’t recommend this). Such a bad idea in the first place. Anyways, our grocery shopping trip that week was a wake-up call. We only went to the produce section of the store.
That’s it. Nothing else.
Our cart was piled high with every vegetable and fruit imaginable. We were ready to make our fresh juices!
As we headed to the check-out lines, my husband eyed another shopper’s cart full of processed junk food. He whispered to me, “Honey, look at that lady’s cart. Look at all of that horrible food she’s going to buy.”
I shook my head in disapproval at the shopper while her attention was elsewhere.
I was proud of our decision to purchase all of that produce to press into juice, and not buy frozen pizzas and potato chips like the vast majority of the shoppers in the store.
STOP!
There’s a HUGE problem with this.
Focusing on the contents of someone else’s shopping cart is just another form of comparing yourself and your journey to someone else’s!
When we get too focused on what someone else is doing, we forget about our own truth. We can become arrogant or we can become envious. Either way, it’s a totally unhealthy mindset to walk around with.
When we shift our focus back to our own shopping carts, we acknowledge what we want to achieve, why we are doing it, and how we feel about it.
We create inner peace once again about our decisions.
Judging others (and the junk food in their carts) is far from loving and kind.
Are you guilty of this too, or is it just me?
Have you rolled your eyes as your friend ate her donuts in front of you?
Have you made comments to a co-worker about how the sweet n’ low packets she’s putting in her coffee is killing her?
It’s great to share information, but let’s make sure it’s from a place of love and acceptance. No hard feelings. No judgments. No superiority complexes.
Remember to check yourself.
Have words of wisdom to share? The comment section is aching to hear all about it!
Permission was granted by Rachel Cassady to use this quote.
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