Embracing The Holidays

​With Thanksgiving a week away and the holidays in full swing, this is also prime time for diet talk, juice cleanses, low carb diets, and fasting to dominate social media feeds, television and radio commercials, and our general discussion amongst friends and family.

This time of year and it's diet-obsessed energy always kicks my messaging into high gear, because I know what it's like. I know what it's like to be terrified of the food that will be before me that day, and the day before, and the day after. I know what it's like to feel weak, like a failure because my willpower failed me once again. If you are feeling anxious about being around family and friends this holiday season, if you're feeling anxious about this body you inhabit, and the food you may or may not be consuming- I see you and I hear you.
I also know that you deserve so much more than the experiences described above. You deserve to feel empowered in your body and around food. 

You deserve to be able to be around food- any type of food- and be relaxed. And you deserve to set healthy boundaries. 

​I've listed a few simple tips below that may be helpful to keep in mind over the next couple of months.

1. Identify & Acknowledge Triggers

If we don't identify and acknowledge what is triggering our feelings of depression, anxiety, or perhaps body shaming during this time of year (or any time of year!), we won't be able to heal it.
This is a difficult journey because we have to come face to face with the deeper reasoning behind these feelings. However, once we get to this place, the healing can begin. You may know right away what may trigger emotions this time of year. If you do- excellent! If you aren't aware of underlying emotions or triggers, journaling is a great way to identify and acknowledge. Simply put pen to paper and write about feelings or thoughts that have been arising for you lately. Don't stop to analyze what you're writing, just keep writing for 3-5 minutes. You could also ask trusted friends or family and they may be able to provide you with some insight.
Identifying and acknowledging is an amazing first step. Once we identify and acknowledge, we can start to pay attention to our feelings and emotions as they arise. At first we may only recognize them after the fact. This is fine- still acknowledge and sit with that feeling. Identify it- give it a name. Then perhaps you will be able to identify these feelings in the midst of the trigger, and maybe you'll then be able to notice when they may occur before the trigger happens. Also keep in mind, you may never reach this point and that is ok! The power lies in identifying and acknowledging, not preventing the feeling from occurring.

2. Set Boundaries

As the incredible Brene Brown says "Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others." Wow, how powerful is that?!
If you find yourself at a place where you've had or attempted to have healthy discussions about your feelings and the environment remains toxic, it may be time to set some boundaries.
Setting boundaries is choice we make to no longer expose ourselves to an environment that is harmful or toxic. They exist to give us permission to establish or maintain our mental health.
The concept of boundaries often comes up around the holidays because much of the anxiety that is felt this time of year is related to being around family members that we may only be exposed to during this season.  Further, many of us are taught to suck it up, to tolerate it in the moment, only to walk away feeling shame, pain, resentment for the remainder of the year until it happens all over again. Yes, there may be some anger or pain in response to boundaries being set, but this time the energy of this response will be different- because you will be different. When healthy boundaries are set, you will be treated differently because you have established your value.
Even if this means no longer participating in the family's traditional holiday celebrations, you have freed yourself of a toxic environment and can move forward in your new boundary-setting journey!

​3. Eat Food

Yes, most of us are surrounded by and consume more food than we normally do on holidays like Thanksgiving. Sometimes we also have parties to attend with friends, events at work in which food is catered or provided by your fellow co-workers. Simply being around food and consuming food does not mean anything about you as a person. Not eating some food does not inherently make you better than others, and eating large quantities of food does not inherently make you less than anyone else.
Diet culture kicks into high gear around the holidays. I'm always amazed with the advertising of the average number of calories that are consumed on Thanksgiving. Just think about that- what is the purpose of this discussion? Does it change what you chose to consume that day, or does it only serve to make you feel worthless while doing so? On a day that is meant to stir feelings of gratitude for all that we have in this life, many of us expend that precious time and energy berating ourselves for what we're putting in our bodies on one day. I also discuss how dangerous it is to label foods as "good" and "bad" here, and this is very apparent around the holidays.
Maybe this year instead of focusing on the food, take some deep breaths and look around. Look at the faces of your loved ones around the space. Feel your body and send gratitude towards it for keeping you here one more year. List some things you are grateful for, in that moment. And then eat.